Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

A reduction in the declaration thresholds is a highly significant measure. It can be seen as part of a range of measures included in the Bill that will have the cumulative effect of providing for a more open and transparent system of political funding in Ireland and a severe limitation on the scope for corporate influence on politics arising from funding and contributions made from that sector to political parties or candidates. The problems in the system have been evident for years and are now being addressed.

On the Moriarty tribunal report, in developing the Bill the Government has had particular regard to the recommendations made in the report which was published in March 2011. The provisions in the Bill for the publication of political party accounts will address the recommendation that all income of political parties be disclosed. As I noted previously, the Government is going further than this by providing that expenditure of parties also be reported and opened to political scrutiny. The tribunal recommended that all political donations, apart from those under a modest threshold, be disclosed. It did not recommend that corporate donations be banned outright because I am sure Mr. Justice Moriarty would have been aware of the legal limitations in so doing. The reductions we are introducing in respect of the donation thresholds are substantial and significant and they address the recommendations.