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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Jul 1972

Vol. 73 No. 5

Companies (Amendment) Bill, 1972: First Stage.

I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1963.

I have pleasure in proposing this Bill. I must confess to some surprise at and ignorance of the reasons which might prompt the Government to oppose it. It is very short and refers in very broad terms to the necessity for the making of disclosures by companies of moneys paid by them to political parties.

I do not propose to go into any more detail on the wording of the Bill because it would not be appropriate at this stage. However, I should like to point out to the House that there are many precedents for legislation of this kind. Similar legislation is, in fact, in force in Britain. If the Bill was accepted, it would rectify the anomaly that has existed since the trade union legislation was passed earlier this year. That put the trade unions under very stringent regulations with regard to the manner in which they might dispose of their money for political purposes and the disclosures required to be made thereunder. It seems to be quite inequitable for this kind of restriction to apply to the trade union movement and not to apply to the other sector of the economy: that represented by private companies.

I have no hesitation at all in recommending the Bill to the House. It is one that might have been made a non-party issue. For a political party to oppose a Bill like this seems to imply that that party has something to hide. I have no knowledge of the kind of situation that would be revealed if this Bill were passed. Irrespective of that we owe it to our democratic institutions and to the conduct of public life in general to pass this Bill, or at the very least to give it a First Reading so that sensible consideration of it may take place during the Summer Recess. We need this Bill more than ever at a time when the conduct of our institutions is coming under increasing public scrutiny and at a time when there is every need to reinforce public confidence in our institutions and in the political parties.

I have pleasure in proposing the introduction of the Bill.

It is not a question of having something to hide. It is merely that there is more in this Bill than the question of political contributions. Consequent on the accession of Ireland to the European Economic Community a Bill dealing with the whole question of companies and company law will have to be introduced and is at present under examination in the Department. It would be more appropriate to discuss the matter which the Senator has in mind on that Bill than it would be to introduce a separate Bill for a small isolated matter of that nature. That is the only reason for our opposition to it.

I know that a speech is not allowed but I would like to say that, as far as the principle of this Bill is concerned, I support it.

Do we take it that legislation of this kind, due to our accession to EEC, is being considered by the Government at the moment, and if so, will we have similar legislation with regard to subventions or large subscriptions by companies to political parties similar to what was passed in Great Britain recently?

I do not know what the Senator is driving at but the Transport Workers' Union asked for an examination of this whole question and there is a committee actually examining it.

Yes in view of the fact that unions are expected to do this and companies are not.

There is a committee examining it.

Question put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 16; Níl, 24.

  • Belton, Richárd.
  • Boland, John.
  • Farrelly, Denis.
  • FitzGerald, Alexis.
  • Fitzgerald, Jack.
  • Horgan, John.
  • McDonald, Charles B.
  • Mannion, John M.
  • O'Brien, Andy.
  • O'Brien, William.
  • O'Higgins, Michael J.
  • Owens, Evelyn P.
  • Prendergast, Michael A.
  • Reynolds, Patrick J.
  • Robinson, Mary T.W.
  • Sheldon, W. A. W.

Níl

  • Brennan, John J.
  • Brugha, Ruairí.
  • Cranitch, Mícheál C.
  • Crinion, Brendan.
  • Doyle, John.
  • Eachthéirn, Cáit Uí.
  • Farrell, Joseph.
  • Farrell, Peggy.
  • Fitzsimons, Patrick.
  • Flanagan, Thomas P.
  • O'Sullivan, Terry.
  • Ryan, Eoin.
  • Gallanagh, Michael.
  • Garrett, Jack.
  • Hanafin, Desmond.
  • Honan, Dermot P.
  • Keegan, Seán.
  • Killilea, Mark.
  • McGlinchey, Bernard.
  • McGowan, Patrick.
  • O'Callaghan, Cornelius K
  • Ó Maoláin, Tomás.
  • Ryan, Patrick W.
  • Walsh, Seán.
Tellers: Tá, Senators J. Fitzgerald and Horgan; Níl, Senators Brennan and J. Farrell.
Question declared lost.
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