Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 66 and 67 in some ways have been subvented the Government's amendments. Amendment No. 66 is perhaps a simplified way of trying to address the issue of cryptocurrencies. It is very difficult to define a cryptocurrency. The easiest way I could find to do it was to limit it to the two currencies that are operational on the island of Ireland. That being said, I think the Government amendments are far superior. I am happy to withdraw that particular amendment. Equally, amendment No. 67 seeks to increase the limit of the fine to a level of €50,000 for some of the breaches of the section 23 rules on donations. The idea that foreign donations will be included our system is an attempt to take a more serious approach. I am seeking to introduce a more severe penalty for breaches I think could have an inadvertent influence on our democracy, particularly in the case of corporate donations. We have very strong corporate donation limits. Compared to the British system, we are leagues ahead in terms of our ethical stance on this issue. We know that politics is not always about the simple transaction. It is also about building capacity. Sometimes, building capacity increases the ability to operate across the island. That is not about one political party. It is about any political party that operates in both jurisdictions. Both amendments are being subvented by the Government amendments. I am happy to withdraw both of them.

I wish to speak to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan's amendment No. 65. I believe Senator Ruane has done some work in the area. I have met representatives of ICCL and have spoken in the Dáil in favour of addressing the issues. It is not as clear a line as is perhaps being put forward. In essence, there is no ban on civil society groups raising funds, but if they are using the funds for political purposes or purposes that may be seen to be political, there is a limit. It is the same limit that applies to any of us. I understand that the same limits that apply to corporate donors also apply to those civil society organisations. That can result in the drying up of a source of funds that would otherwise be available to such groups in other countries. I can absolutely see the perspective of the groups. It is very difficult. There are campaigns that I would very much like to see receiving that kind of funding. However, there are other campaigns, such as those from the far right in the US, in respect of which I would not like to see such funding drifting into our political system. In the same way that we talked about online political advertising, there is a differentiation between the electoral periods and the capacity-building that is often done in advance of a referendum or an election. There could be civil society groups operating in an overtly political way. It does not happen in Ireland but it could happen. Perhaps the Minister of State will accept Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment but I do not think he will. I ask the Minister of State to look seriously at this area to see how we can resolve some of these day-to-day issues for the civil society groups. However, if such groups use the funding to build capacity and use that capacity in a political way, they have to be subject to the same limits that apply to any other political activists or influencers during election periods. That is the point I wish to make. I am happy to withdraw my amendments. I ask the Minister of State to consider Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment with the note of caution that I have added.