Waterford Crystal Limited has confirmed that it made a contribution of £15,000 to the Fine Gael party last year.

In 1997, the firm made a £30,000 contribution to Fianna Fail and it indicated at the time of the 1997 annual report that it had paid a smaller sum to another party in 1998. The Waterford Wedgwood accounts for last year, released yesterday, revealed the size of the contribution to Fine Gael.

A spokesman for the company said it was a staunch supporter of the democratic process and made contributions to a number of parties. The sums given depend on the size of and support for the different parties. However, he said the company did not necessarily make an annual political contribution and declined to comment on whether it would give money to a political party this year.

"If and when we make a contribution, it will be reported in the next annual report for the relevant period," he said.

The 1998 accounts also showed that the company donated £192,000 to charities in the communities around the world where it operates.

Meanwhile, the remuneration - excluding pensions - of the six executive directors of Waterford Wedgewood rose to £1.96 million (#2.49 million), or an average of £327,000, from £1.56 million the previous year.

The annual bonus shared by the six directors, including Waterford Crystal chief executive Mr Redmond O'Donoghue, rose by 56 per cent to £487,000, while other remuneration increased by 18 per cent to £1.38 million. Benefits in kind also increased to £91,000 from £80,000 in 1997.

The 12 non-executive directors shared fees totalling £192,000.