Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

While breaches of ethics have been associated with most parties, and the Moriarty report does not concern ours, I accept that our party has been associated with some of the worst of them. As a young member of the party, it is something of which I am deeply ashamed, and I have been vocal about that on many occasions outside the House. That is the reason I would prefer an absolute ban. From a party political perspective, Fianna Fáil will never win back people's trust and support until we can establish that we have put that behind us and that we have set the highest standards, beyond those of anybody else. We have more to prove, which is why I believe there should be an outright ban.

I received one unsolicited corporate donation of €500 during my local election campaign and I sent it back straight away. I have never taken a corporate donation, but I accept that my party and other parties accept them. That should change. The amendments we have put down will ensure disclosure of amounts over €100. The reason I support them is that I have been told an outright ban is unconstitutional. I would prefer if it was constitutional but we must listen to legal advice. Senators van Turnhout and Mac Conghail called for the legal advice to be published. That would be very positive.

We are all on the same page on this matter. Everybody who has spoken has said they would prefer corporate donations to abolished. It would be a positive development if the Minister published that advice so we can all be equally well informed. Listening to other Members, I believe there would be agreement. If a ban cannot be constitutional and we would set up a system that would be struck down by the courts, Members should support the idea of disclosure of amounts over €100 and having absolute transparency. I hope the Minister will publish that advice before Report Stage.