THE Labour leadership has asked its parliamentary party members to come forward if they have received money from Dunnes Stores. However, Fine Gael's leadership has made no such demand on its TDs, senators or MEPs.
The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, confirmed to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) yesterday that a cheque for £15,000 had been given by Mr Ben Dunne to assist Mrs Robinson's campaign for the presidency in 1990.
Following yesterday's meeting, the chairman of the PLP, Mr Michael Bell, said the cheque was signed by Mr Dunne and constituted "a personal contribution" to the party. The £15,000 cheque from Mr Dunne was a perfectly legitimate personal contribution".
As chairman, Mr Bell said, he had asked those present at yesterday's meeting if anyone had received a "payment of any sort, for any reason, from Dunnes Stores". If so, that information should be conveyed to the party leadership.
"I am satisfied that the people present did not receive any payments from Dunnes Stores," he said.
The PLP has asked the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, to "press for the maximum information in relation to the Price Waterhouse report". The party was anxious to "have it all out in the open" and would also encourage Mr Michael Lowry to make as full a statement as possible on the matter as quickly as he could.
The PLP was "disappointed" over the Lowry affair, although no criticism of the former minister was expressed at the meeting.
The PLP also asked that progress be made in bringing forward the stalled Electoral Amendment Bill, 1994, which would allow State funding for political parties and set limits on the spending of candidates.
The Attorney General, Mr Gleeson, advised that the original Bill was unconstitutional in the wake of the McKenna case and Government leaders have not agreed alternative proposals.
At its parliamentary party meeting, Fine Gael noted "with deep regret" the resignation of their colleague and acknowledged Mr Lowry as showing commitment and vigour in carrying out his duties.
A statement from the party later said the meeting had also acknowledged that Mr Lowry's reason for stepping down was because he wished to be in a position, from outside Government to deal with the public disclosure of matters before he became a member of the Government.
No request was made of parliamentary party members to indicate if they had benefited from Dunnes Stores, although there was agreement that immediate publication of the Price Waterhouse report would be desirable.
The party is stoutly refusing to give way on revealing the identity of its contributors. Senior sources last night said it would not break its tradition of maintaining confidentiality.
One source said: "If Dunnes Stores gave money to Fine Gael, let them say so".
According to the statement, the party had sought voluntary contributions from almost every large company in the State. All donations, whether from companies or members of the public, were sought and given on a private basis, and "it is entirely a matter for the donor of such monies whether they wish to make contributions known in public or not".
The leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, said she was satisfied that nobody in her parliamentary party had received money from Dunnes Stores. She had spoken to all her colleagues and had checked with the party's trustees since the party's formation in 1985 and was happy that this was the case.