Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on progress on political reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11038/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Since taking office in 2011 the Government has introduced radical and significant reforms to the operation and financing of the political system. The Electoral Act 2011, enacted in July 2011, allowed for a reduction in the number of TDs which will result in the number decreasing from 166 to 158 at the next general election.It provided that the writ for a Dáil bye election must now be issued within six months of the vacancy occurring. During the lifetime of the previous Dáil, there were significant delays in calling by-elections. The spending limit for candidates at a Presidential election was reduced from €1,300,000 to €750,000. The maximum reimbursement payment to candidates was reduced from €260,000 to €200,000.

The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 became law in July 2012.This Act brought into force restrictions on corporate donations and considerable reductions in the maximum amount that a political party or an individual can accept as a political donation and provided for the following measures:

A ban on the acceptance of corporate donations over €200 unless the body has registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission and the donor has declared to the recipient that the donation has been authorised by a general meeting of the members of the body concerned.

A reduction in the limits on political donations that may be accepted:

- by a political party from €6,348.69 to €2,500;

- by an individual from €2,539.48 to €1,000.

A reduction in the thresholds at which donations must be reported to the Standard in Public Office Commission for publication:

- by a political party or third party from €5,078.95 to €1,500;

- by an individual from €634.87 to €600;

A reduction in the threshold, from €5,078 to €200, above which companies, trade unions, societies and building societies must report on political donations in their annual accounts.

A reduction in the threshold, from €5,078 aggregate to €1,500 aggregate, above which other donors must report donations to the Standards in Public Office Commission for publication.

A requirement for all registered political parties to prepare independently audited accounts to be submitted annually to the Standards in Public Office Commission for publication. Political parties that do not comply with these new requirements face having their State funding withdrawn.

A requirement that to qualify for full State funding provided to political parties under Part 3 of the Electoral Act 1997, a qualifying political party must have at least 30% women candidates and at least 30% men candidates at the next Dáil general election. This will rise to 40% after seven years. If a party does not meet these thresholds its funding will be halved.

As a condition for inclusion on the Register of Political Parties under Section 25 of the Electoral Act 1992, a party now has to submit:

- the name and address of each accounting unit of the political party, and

- the name and address of the responsible person or persons of the unit.

This information is updated annually and published. The effect of this measure will be to improve the transparency of political parties and their local structures.

The threshold for receipt of anonymous donations was reduced from €126.97 €100.

The donation threshold amount that triggers the requirement to open a political donations account was reduced from €126.97 to €100. On receipt of a donation exceeding €100, a political donations account must be opened by an individual, a third party, a political party or one of its individual branches.

The definitions of a ‘third party’ and ‘accounting unit’ of a political party have been changed to provide that they become subject to the requirements in the legislation on receipt of a donation in excess of €100. Previously the threshold amount was €126.97. A ‘third party’ must register once it receives a donation in excess of this amount.

A ban on the receipt of all cash donations over €200. Previously there was no specific restriction on donations in cash.

A prohibition on anonymous indirect donations. Where a donation is given by an intermediary on behalf of somebody else, their identity must now be provided to the recipient. It is now an offence to fail to provide this information and the intermediary making the indirect donation can be prosecuted.

In submitting a statement of donations to the Standards in Public Office Commission, additional details must now be included to identify:

- whether the donation was solicited;

- the name of the person soliciting the donation and whether a receipt was given, and;

- the date the donation was given and received.

In 2010 the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption, known as ‘GRECO’, published a report on political party funding in Ireland. In December 2013, a final report on the implementation of the recommendations made by GRECO was published. It recognised that the regulation and transparency of political funding in Ireland had greatly improved and stated that “virtually all concerns raised by GRECO have been taken on board”.

In February 2014 the first EU Anti-Corruption Report was published by the European Commission and notes that Ireland has tightened rules on the financing of political parties and promoted greater transparency as regards party accounts. This report also acknowledges the positive assessment given by the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption.