Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 4

Written Answers. - Political Donations.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

174 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the impact of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1997, in respect of advocacy work carried out by development and human rights organisations which may be in receipt of funds from within the State and from outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18671/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The Electoral Act, 1997, as amended, prohibits the acceptance by political parties, accounting units of political parties, public representatives, candidates at elections and third parties of a donation for a political purpose from an individual, other than an Irish citizen, who resides outside the island of Ireland or from a company, which does not keep an office in the island of Ireland from which the carrying on of one or more of its principal activities is directed.

The legislation sets a limit of €2,539.48 in the case of an individual or €5,078.95 for other bodies on the amount of donation(s) from any one source in a year which may be accepted by such persons. It also requires them to open a political donations account where a donation, in excess of €126.97, for political purposes is received. A statement must also be furnished to the Standards in Public Office Commission before the end of March in the following year. Third parties in receipt of such a donation must register with the Commission, who is responsible for monitoring political donations provisions.