Political donations four times 2003 sum

TDs, senators and MEPs disclosed political contributions to a total value of more than €166,000 last year, according to the latest figures from the Standards in Public Office Commission.

Although this is four times the amount disclosed in 2003, the increase is largely explained by the European elections held last year. Almost €470,000 was declared in 2002, which was a general election year.

By far the largest recipient of political donations in 2004 was Fianna Fáil TD Eoin Ryan, who received €42,950 in support of his successful campaign for a seat in the European parliament.

Fianna Fáil, with donations of more than €116,000, received almost 70 per cent of contributions. Independents and Fine Gael each accounted for about 9 per cent of donations, and Labour and the PDs for about 5 per cent each.

The commission has written to Dana Rosemary Scallon about seemingly conflicting disclosures made by her. As an unsuccessful candidate in the European elections, Mrs Scallon listed five donations, but in the statement she was required to furnish as an MEP during 2004, only three of these are disclosed.

In a report, the chairman, Mr Justice Matthew P. Smith, said Ms Scallon had not replied to a letter the commission sent to her in February, or to a reminder issued last month. The commission is pursuing the matter with her, he said.

Last night, Mrs Scallon said the matter was "no big deal. Sometimes mistakes are made. If there's anything to be tidied up, it will be tidied up".

Again this year the largest single amount disclosed, €13,000, relates to the provision of a constituency office for the Taoiseach at St Luke's in Drumcondra. The normal limit for donations from the same person in any one year is €2,539, but this does not apply to a donation of a constituency office.

Two TDs disclosed donations above the €2,539 limit, and may have committed an offence by failing to return the excess donations within the required 14-day period, according to the report.

Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney received €5,000 from his mother, Pauline, whom he later reimbursed with a cheque for €2,500. Liam Aylward of Fianna Fáil disclosed a donation of €3,022 from Paul Holden, representing free diesel given to the TD for his election campaign. Mr Aylward later sent Mr Holden a cheque for €1,000. The commission wrote to the two TDs but decided not to refer their cases to the DPP as they had otherwise complied with the legislation by returning the excess donations.

Under the Electoral Act elected politicians are required to open and maintain a political donations account. However, some TDs, senators and MEPs closed their accounts after the general election, said Mr Justice Smith. The commission had, therefore, written to all Oireachtas members and MEPs reminding them of the requirement to keep their accounts open.

Mr Ryan's fundraising campaign attracted €1,100 each in donations from a number of prominent supporters, including senior counsel Colm Allen and Gerry Danaher and former government press secretary PJ Mara, as well as developers Treasury Holdings and Flynn O'Flaherty.