Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The banning of corporate donations is one of the very serious matters the Minister regards as a high priority. That is why he has taken three years to do something about it. It was part of the programme for government for 2007 but nothing has happened in that regard.

I am surprised that the Minister was quoting from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Surely he is not agreeing with the fact that all corporate donations are corrupt or lead to corruption. Limits are already in place. We are all in favour of transparency. There are issues involving corporate donations on which we would be pleased to engage with the Minister but my party is in favour of retaining them for people who wish to contribute to the political process on an individual or corporate basis.

I put it to the Minister that given that he has done nothing on the matter in three years he is not serious about it and that his colleagues in government are not in favour of it and therefore it will not see the light of day before the next general election.

See this speech in context