The Labour Party yesterday issued a challenge to the Government to support its call for a ban on corporate donations to political parties in the wake of recent political scandals.
However, hopes for all-party consensus were dampened last night when the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he would not be supporting an outright ban on corporate donations, saying it would put at a disadvantage politicians who were not independently wealthy.
"If you are a very wealthy individual, unlike me, or if you have very wealthy brothers, then you could merrily go along. And I don't agree with that," the Taoiseach said. The comment appeared to be a reference to the Labour leader's brother, millionaire businessman Mr Lochlainn Quinn, who is chairman of AIB.
Mr Ahern said if members of the public or companies wanted to give small donations to political parties and to support the political process, that was OK. "That is what happens in the modern world and that is what I think works well," he added.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said on Friday he favoured a cap of £3,000 on all donations, corporate or otherwise, and full transparency so everyone knew who gave what.
The Labour Party proposal was included in one of three private member's Bills published by Mr Quinn. He said the legislation would reverse the loss of confidence in politics following the revelations of both the Flood and Moriarty tribunals.
The Electoral (Amendment) Bill included measures to restrict the making of political donations to registered electors only, outlawing all donations from business.
The Bill also proposed a reduction in the threshold for disclosure of donations from the existing limit of £4,000 to a party to £1,000 and £500 to an individual to £250. It provides for an annual statutory audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of public money paid to political parties.
Mr Quinn said that under the proposal the party would lose up to £37,000 in annual donations from trade unions. But he said the party was prepared to sacrifice this "for the wider good".
Mr Quinn also published the Prevention of Corruption Bill and a Bill requiring election candidates to produce tax clearance certificates. This Bill would place an onus on a defendant to provide proof that he or she was innocent. Mr Quinn said it was incumbent on the Government to attempt to restore some degree of confidence in the integrity and impartiality of public administration. "The Government's, and in particular the Taoiseach's, failure to back up its strong words with actions has been a contributory factor to the loss of confidence in the political process," he said. He said a deadline for action should be set which was realistic and achievable. "By the time the Dail rises for the summer we ought to have in place a coherent and effective legislative response," he added.
Mr Quinn said he would be happy to discuss the issues with the Government and other opposition parties. Both Mr Ahern and the Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton, said in recent days that they would favour an all-party approach to changing the system of political funding.
Mr Quinn also called on the Government to accept a private member's Bill allowing for the establishment of a lobbyists' register.