Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has apologised and submitted an amended financial statement to the political ethics watchdog after revelations that he did not correctly account for a expenses paid for his election seven years ago.
In addition, he will recuse himself from any ministerial responsibilities regarding the Standards in Public Office Commission while it examines the issue, which emerged in a complaint to the body.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Sunday, Mr Donohoe confirmed that the use of a commercial van was provided to his campaign, along with the labour of six individuals involved in postering for the general election that year.
The combined value of the expenses was€1,057. Mr Donohoe said he became aware of the use of the van, which was valued at €140, in 2017, and the labour “in recent weeks”. Since then he has been working to assess the value of the labour and to make an amended return to Sipo, he said.
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The labour, he said, was valued at €917 and both it and the use of the van should have been declared in his election expenses form. The expenses were ultimately paid by Michael Stone, using a company van and also paying the workers himself, but Mr Donohoe said it was made in a personal capacity, not from his company – the Designer Group.
He was speaking after reports that he was reviewing his files following the complaint to Sipo, which was made by freelance journalist Liam Deegan.
“I always hold myself to the very highest of professional standards and I profoundly regret that this matter wasn’t dealt with correctly in 2016. In light of the information that’s now available to me, I’ve taken the steps to address the issue as comprehensively as I can,” Mr Donohoe said. He said he has spoken with the leaders of the three Coalition parties and apologised, and to Mr Stone as well.
“Integrity is fundamental to public life and how I believe it should be conducted, I deeply regret this situation and the role that I played in it.”
In December, Mr Donohoe’s spokeswoman told The Sunday Independent when it submitted queries on the issue that the vehicle was provided free of charge and the equivalent commercial value was below the relevant donation limits.
Mr Stone is chair of the North East Inner City taskforce, which is headquartered in Mr Donohoe’s constituency. Mr Donohoe said he has never been involved in decisions regarding the operation of the board or any work that happens in it.
He said he accepted that the story would “further accelerate the debate” on the overhaul of ethics legislation, but pointed out that the specific issues relates to electoral regulation rather than ethics.
“I am so regretful that this issue has developed and for my role in it.”
“I hugely regret that this has happened. I hugely regret that over the last number of months, I didn’t give this the proper consideration and I wasn’t clear on some of the facts in regard to that campaign seven years ago,” he said, but added that the fact it occurred so long ago was “not an excuse”.
“When the questions came in, and when I became aware of an issue with Sipo, I put a lot of time into trying to understand what had happened and putting in the submission now. It is a deep source of regret to me that I am involved in anything that might affect the perception of the public standing or the integrity of myself, my party or the Government, and for that I apologise.”
He said previous incorrect responses given to the media were given because he believed the information was right at the time. But when he examined the issue further he found he was wrong. “When I answered the questions in relation to this matter at the end of November I was incorrect in my understanding in relation to the use of a commercial van and I wasn’t aware that any payment had been made to these individuals.”
“Because Fine Gael Dublin Central did not pay these individuals in relation to the work, I assumed there was no expense and cost in relation to this. I was wrong in that understanding.”
Asked if he would consider resigning in the event of any adverse finding from Sipo, he said he would let Sipo “do their work in relation to this first”.
“When they have conducted their review I will of course consider the consequences of what they may decide,” he said. Asked why Damien English had resigned but he hadn’t he said Mr English’s resignation was a matter for the Meath West TD, and that when he made his submission he believed it was “accurate and true”.
