Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I agree that ethics and standards do matter. It is why I am so disappointed to be in this position, having to explain who put up my posters, having to explain I assumed it happened on a voluntary basis, and having to take up the time of the House making a justification for it, let alone having to revise my expenses statements with SIPO.

Regarding the point the Deputy made on my "breaking the law", which I believe was the phrase he used, it gives me no pleasure at all to hear that statement made with regard to me, which is why I take this issue so seriously. I acknowledge the mistakes that were made. Respectfully, it is up to the Standards in Public Office Commission to form a view on this matter and evaluate my action, intention and what I have done to try to ameliorate this issue. I will engage with it in any way required.

One of the two questions the Deputy put to me concerned who received the postering at the time. It was the Fine Gael councillor for the north inner city, Mr. Ray McAdam. He received the postering. On the question on the support received by the second candidate and the point the Deputy made on the nature of the account, all the funding and support received at election time go into the central party political account, which is the Fine Gael Dublin Central account. If I had received anything personally, I would be revising my personal statements, but I did not. All the funding – any support received – went in there, but I go back to the key point. It is important to be clear regarding the nature of the donation. The nature of the donation is the value that is attributed to posters put up. At no point was money received that needed to be put into the account.

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