Political Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Questions (165)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

165. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will, in view of the findings of the recently-published EU anti-corruption report, act on the recommendations for Ireland, including placing an overall limit on the amount a person may give to a political party and electoral candidates or elected representatives who are members of that party, imposing a reasonably short time limit for political parties to discharge their financial disclosure obligations, and the regulation of financing of referendum campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7253/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 introduced significant reforms to the regulation of political funding which are acknowledged in the EU Anti-Corruption Report published on 2 February 2014. The report notes that Ireland has tightened rules on the financing of political parties and promoted greater transparency as regards party accounts. The report also acknowledges the positive assessment given by the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption, known as ‘GRECO’, in December 2013 on the actions undertaken by Ireland to enhance the transparency of party funding and to strengthen the financial discipline of political parties.

Further legislative change, including the recommendations made in the EU Anti-Corruption Report, can be considered in the context of the Electoral (Amendment) (Referendum Spending and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. This Bill is to provide for the disclosure of expenditure and donations at referendum campaigns and to provide for the extension of the spending limit period that applies at Presidential, Dáil, European Parliament and local elections.