Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am not talking about political donations or funds raised for political purposes. If the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, or any Minister sat down today with a group of people, gave them a briefing on the economy for more than an hour and they had a whip-around — not for his political campaigning or purposes, not a political donation, but because they decided he was a nice guy and needed a few bob — and gave him €10,000, would the Taoiseach be comfortable with this behaviour? Would he expect a Minister in his Government to retain those funds for his or her own purposes?

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