Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The Minister has indicated that €2,000 will be the new figure. I believe Senator Cox is indicating there will be an element of confusion out there. Taking the recent election as an example, as a defeated candidate I have to present a statement to the Standards in Public Office Commission. If I received any funding in excess of €125 I had to produce a bank statement, with the magic ceiling of €650. Although there was an impending election and people made contributions to me, they did not stipulate they were political in nature. Instead, these individuals indicated that they had been friends of mine for years and that they were making personal contributions.

When does a personal contribution become a political contribution? Is there a timeframe involved? There may not be another general election for four or five years. Could a person who makes a personal contribution to me still state that it is such a contribution if it is made within three months of a general election? The amount involved could be in excess of €650. It could, for example, be €1,000. With the different limits on the political side and in view of the fact that a new limit of €2,000 is being put in place on the personal side, how does one balance personal and political donations? In many instances, people who give one donations towards future elections perceive that they are making personal donations. They do not believe they are offering corporate style gifts. I am concerned that confusion might arise in this regard.

There is a great deal to be said for increasing the figure of €650 which applies in respect of the Standards in Public Office Commission to €1,000. There is also much to be said for abandoning the new limit of €2,000 on personal donations and setting it instead at €1,000, thereby ensuring uniformity. It would not then matter whether a donation was personal or political in nature because the limit applying would be the same. An element of confusion is going to arise and I do not believe it will be resolved by the legislation.