Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. Legislation such as this is necessary but raising the limits from €600 to €2,000 is ludicrous. The current requirement to disclose the acceptance of donations of even €600 is more than sufficient in my opinion.

In the past ten years I probably received less than €1,000 in total donations and I find it incredible to think politicians on any side of the House could accept several donations of up to €2,000 from individuals in the wake of this legislation. That is unacceptable and the public would not view it as acceptable for public representatives and politicians, who are paid well, to accept contributions such as this. It is wrong.

It is also wrong that people who do not get donations must go through red tape from the Standards in Public Office Commission. It is ludicrous that people not in receipt of donations must have everything noted down and have it signed by a peace commissioner or notary public. Such a procedure may be necessary for people in receipt of large donations but for those receiving minimal donations, or none at all, it is ludicrous for them to have to go through the red tape. Raising the limit to €2,000 sends out the wrong message to members of the public. After all, it is taxpayers who pay us and they pay us well. To allow people to accept several donations up to €2,000 without declaring them is despicable.