WITHIN weeks, parties and candidates will have to disclose donations for political purposes. This was decided at last night's Cabinet meeting against the background of disclosures at the payments to politicians tribunal.
The Government decided to proceed with the passage of the full terms of the Electoral Bill before calling the general election.
But its provisions, with the exception of one, will not come into effect until January 1st, 1998.
Sections 19 to 23, dealing with the disclosure of donations, will be enacted once the President, Mrs Robinson, has signed the Bill into law.
These sections require parties to disclose donations of more than £4,000. Election candidates - elected and unelected - will be required to disclose donations for political purposes of more than £500. The Bill defines a donation as money, property, goods or services.
The Government's decision means donations received in the forthcoming election will have to be reported to the Public Offices Commission by February 28th next year. The Bill contains penalties for any breach of these provisions.
State funding of elections, however, will not come into effect in next month's election and will apply to elections from next year.
Government sources said it was seen as important, against the background of the tribunal, to implement the disclosure obligations as soon as possible.
Before the expected conclusion of the Committee Stage of the Electoral Bill today, the PD spokeswoman, Ms Mairin Quill said last night the Bill was a crude attempt by the Labour Party to buy people's votes with their own money. There was no public support for the State funding of elections, and the PDs were committed to determined opposition to the Bill.
The original reason for new legislation in this area was to ensure that large campaign contributions did not buy political influence. This is a worthy objective and one which the PDs wholeheartedly support," said Ms Quill. The disclosure requirements contained in the Bill were sufficient to protect the public interest, she added.
