Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Any money that comes from any jurisdiction must observe the rules that obtain in the Republic of Ireland, that is, in the State. People must make the declarations associated with the law as it applies here. As for corporate donations and the sum of €200, this constitutes a major reform whereby any moneys of more than €200 must be declared under certain criteria to the Standards in Public Office Commission. Moreover, one must be registered as an individual or company that is prepared to do that, up to a maximum. This is a major reform in terms of reducing the impact of the corporate sector and the perception that some influence was being bought because of such donations.

I would like to think that more could be done on corporate donations but in response to Senator Cullinane, I spelled out succinctly the relevant constitutional provisions that preclude me from going further. Equally, if one is unable to opt for zero donations, one must adopt a pragmatic approach regarding local shopkeepers who may wish to express a preference or to put up a poster in a window in support of a party or a candidate. Such individuals should not necessarily also get drawn into an administrative nightmare with regard to the bureaucratic issues associated with making the necessary disclosures subsequent to the election. I do not believe that anyone who, as a small shopkeeper, donates up to €200 will in any way corrupt any individual or political party. Nevertheless, this is a small way in which such people may give expression under the constitutional provisions and their freedom of expression is essential for the democratic health of that Constitution. The existing constitutional provisions and extant Acts have been analysed by the Attorney General and the Department's legal advisers. As we cannot ban such donations completely, I have come up with what hopefully is a balanced and pragmatic response to this issue that provides for a massive reduction from the former limit in respect of corporate donations and by making provision for the transparency that must apply for any donation of more than €200 from the corporate sector.