Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

However, they are being joined in hypocrisy by Fine Gael and the Labour Party who talk about bad planning and corruption, yet are still taking payments from big business. I will give the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, an example. He had a go at the Green Party over shares which, as we know, were totally above board, and Deputy Cuffe got rid of his shares. As a Green Party member I support farming jobs and organic farming. Let us say that the organic farming movement donated a grant to me for my election campaign. It does not matter if it is a worthy cause. The fact that I take money has compromised me in any decision, no matter how good it may be. Similarly, if I agreed with a planning development and thought that Adamstown was the best thing since sliced bread but took one cent from a developer, I would have been fundamentally compromised.

I am calling on Members of the Opposition at least to support our motion by condemning the practice of corporate donations and bringing them to an end. As legislators, we cannot make decisions if, even in the interests of legitimate political donations, we are tainted in some way. We have to make decisions without any influence whatsoever. That is why I am asking for the motion to be supported.

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