It is time to toughen the law making political parties declare financial donations, argues Elaine Byrne in the IRISH TIMES June 27, 2009

The latest Standards in Public Office report calls for a new approach and greater scrutiny with regard to the funding of political parties and party expenditure. An examination of the disclosed donations to political parties for 2006, as published in the report, clearly demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the current disclosure system.

These donations are distinct from disclosed donations to TDs, Senators and MEPs which were published last April and warrant separate, more detailed analysis.

Section 24 of the Electoral Act 1997 requires political parties to furnish the Standards Commission with an annual statement of donations they have received. A political party must disclose donations over €5,079 and is prohibited from accepting donations totalling €6,349 over one year by the same donor.

Rather than banning corporate donations to parties as the Greens want, a review and consolidation of existing laws would be better, suggests Elaine Byrne In The Irish Times June 7, 2007

The Green Party has cited the banning of corporate donations as a potential deal-maker in any negotiations for a programme for government.

Likewise, in the 1992 negotiations the introduction of ethics legislation was a precondition for the Labour Party. This occurred in the context of a series of high-profile scandals. Among these were: the allocation of a licence to Century Radio; the privatisation of Irish Sugar; the sale of land involving Telecom Éireann; the beef tribunal; issues surrounding Celtic Helicopters; the provision of passports to foreign nationals; and allegations of bribery within the planning process.