I move amendment No. 3:
In page 7, before section 7, to insert the following new section:
7.—The Act of 1997 is amended by inserting the following section after section 23A (inserted by section 49(d) of the Act of 2001):
"23AA.—(1) None of the following persons namely—
(a) a member of either House of the Oireachtas,
(b) a member of the European Parliament,
(c) a candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election,
(d) a political party,
(e) a third party, or
(f) an accounting unit,
shall not directly or through any intermediary accept any corporate donations.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a donation shall not be prohibited under that subsection where—
(a) a provider of a programme of education and training,
(b) the students’ union or other representative body recognised by a provider of a programme of education and training,
makes a payment to a club, society or other body, operating with the permission and on the premises of the provider of a programme of education and training, and every member of which is a student who is enrolled or registered with the provider of a programme of education and training.
(3) Where, notwithstanding subsection (1) a donation the acceptance of which is prohibited by that subsection, is made to a person referred to therein, the donee shall, not later than 14 days after the receipt of the donation either, return the donation or, in the case of a donation which is a monetary donation, the part of it exceeding the limit concerned to the corporate donor and keep a written record of that return for the purposes of it being furnished to the Standards in Public Office Commission, if required by it.
(4) The Standards in Public Office Commission shall dispose of all moneys, property or goods received under subsection (3) in such manner as may be directed by the Minister for Finance.".".
We oppose absolutely the making of political donations to political parties. The amendment states there should be a total ban on them, irrespective of whether they are large or small or whether they are paid through an intermediary or directly to an elected representative or candidate. No matter what way one tries to limit donations, they still have the potential to influence how people may view matters or policy. However, we seek an exception where a student body receives funding from an institution or students' union for a club or society. It is important that the political process be enhanced through development in third level institutions and that there be participation without having to comply with the corporate donation requirements. Donations for clubs and societies are not corporate donations. This does not contradict our objective of having openness and transparency in the funding of the political system. There is a world of a difference between the receipt of a corporate donation and the receipt by a student body, society or club of funding in order to develop itself politically in a third level institution. We believe our amendment is balanced and that the only way of handling the issue of corporate donations is to have a complete ban.
Section 8 involves the establishment of a register. If there were no corporate donations, there would be no logical need for a register. Its existence would not be warranted.
Amendment No. 5 reflects my views on the banning of all corporate donations. Amendment No. 6 refers to the register of corporate donations. The same principle applies in this regard. Amendment No. 7 ensures a candidate for election shall not directly or indirectly accept any corporate donations. There was some talk in recent days about direct and indirect donations in respect of this institution. It is important that funding from corporate donations cannot be passed indirectly, even through third or fourth parties. Amendment No. 8 is linked directly to our opposition to corporate donations. It would ensure candidates could not accept any corporate donations, as opposed to attempting to manage corporate donations. It exempts college clubs and societies. Amendment No. 9 relates to corporate donations also.