FF largest beneficiaries of donations in 2004

Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan received nearly €43,000 in private donations towards his European election campaign last year, it emerged today.

TDs, Senators and MEPs disclosed donations with a total value of €166,793.79 for 2004, according to figures released by the Standards in Public Office Commission today.

By law, politicians are obliged to declare any donation over €634.87 to the Commission. Over 240 such declarations were made in 2004.

The figures show Mr Ryan received the most money by far, getting a total of €42,950 from 39 different companies, organisations and individuals. Among those he got money from are a number of development and legal firms.

He also received €1,000 from Rehab Lotteries and €1,100 from Fianna Fáil's former director of elections, P.J. Mara.

His tally was followed by Fianna Fáil's Seamus Kirk, who got €18,893.67 from 14 different companies and individuals. Dana Rosemary Scallon got €7,000 from various donors, and Kathy Sinnott was given €6,288.

Brian Crowley was given €5,804 and Labour's Prionsias De Rossa got €5,034.55 toward their re-election campaigns.

The largest single declaration was by the Taoiseach. The Fianna Fáil Dublin Central organisation allowed him to use St Luke's in Drumcondra as his constituency office. Mr Ahern said this amenity was worth €13,000 a year to him.

Progressive Democrats TD Noel Grealish declared he had been granted the use of a property by the Galway Glass Centre. The value of the access to this property, which was used as a constituency office, was put at €8,000.

In total, Fianna Fáil members received €105,507.26. Fine Gael politicians got €15,000, €8,955.05 went to the Labour Party, and the Progressive Democrats got €8,000. Green Party members got €2,539.48 in donations, and non-party politicians received €16,288.

No donations of over €634.87 were disclosed by members of Sinn Féin or the Socialist Party.

Politicians are only allowed receive personal donations of up to €2,539.48 from any one person in a year. If that is exceeded, they must notify the

commission within a fortnight. Alternatively, they can return the money or the excess, provided a written record is kept in the event it is sought by the Commission. The limit does not apply to a donation of a constituency office.

Two MEPs - Fianna Fáil's Liam Aylward and Fine Gael's Simon Coveney - reported donations from individuals of more than €2,539.48 during 2004. The excess was returned to the donors by both men.

They both failed to notify the Commission within the 14 day limit, the report shows. However, the Commission decided not to refer the cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions, sending them a letter outlining their obligations instead.