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

I welcome the amendments and think they are important for all the reasons Deputy Nash outlined. I had expected we could, perhaps, go further on some of them, which might have helped Deputy Ó Broin in understanding the specific application of the provision. I would like to see more detail and adjustment on Report Stage.

Deputy Ó Broin makes a very valid point regarding the all-Ireland nature of some parties despite there being two jurisdictions. Even so, as a basic premise, if a corporate donation is considered wrong, a party should not accept it regardless of what it is allowed to accept. In this State, we have come to a settled will whereby corporate donations are deemed not to be appropriate, and just because they are permitted does not mean a political party should avail of them, regardless of what is permitted North or South. I hear what Deputy Ó Broin is saying, but I would imagine many people who support all-Ireland parties believe there should not be illegal corporate donations and would be surprised to learn that some of those all-island parties receive donations that would be illegal in the South. Of course, it is a matter of regulation, but it is also about being honest with people and saying how we believe we should operate, and how we will operate, North and South.

There is more work to be done on this issue and I look forward to the Minister of State returning to it with further amendments. He is aware of the areas of concern I have raised.