Disclosure of company donations
Quinn asked whether commercial contributions to parties would have to be publicly declared. Colley challenged O'Leary’s consistency on disclosing donations, while O'Leary supported transparency to give ordinary citizens rights comparable to wealthy contributors.
Since the Minister has raised the question of voluntary contributions to parties in opposition to State contributions, does he propose in future Finance Acts to make contributions to political parties from commercial companies something that they must declare publicly?
Comment on this
Deputy O'Leary was and may still be treasurer of the Labour Party. When he was in Government he made strenuous efforts with some little success to collect money from voluntary contributors, commercial and otherwise. Is it suggested that all of those should be published, too?
Comment on this
I am on record over the years as favouring the course I have suggested here. I know who in this House collects the lion's share of the contributions, and the Minister knows too. It is to change that situation that this whole area was made transparent and to give to the ordinary citizens the same rights as the wealthy.