The argument has been put forward that big business wants to protect and support our democracy, but it just does not stand up to scrutiny. It is clear that any big company making a donation to a Minister does so to gain access to or lobby them and obtain a favourable response. That is why the tent at the Galway races and the Taoiseach's annual fundraising dinners are so well attended. It is because he is the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil are in power. Business interests want to be close to those in power so that, when decisions affecting them are being made, they have the inside track because their donations place them in a favourable position. That is fundamentally wrong; it makes our democracy rotten and totally undermines the independence of decision-making. The Minister can come and swear black and blue that he is not influenced by whatever donations he might receive, but the public will simply not believe that. To use a common phrase, he who pays the piper calls the tune.