Campaign funding laws are to be examined

LAWS requiring groups campaigning in referenda to say where they get their money are to be examined, Environment Minister Martin Cullen said yesterday.

Questions have been raised about where a number of campaigners in the Nice referendum are getting their funding. Mr Cullen said it was incumbent on campaigners in the referendum to declare where they get their money before polling day and said the issue of campaign funding legislation is under review. Political party funding was fairly transparent, but the political funding area will continue to evolve, he said.: Following revelations of links between Justin Barrett's No to Nice Campaign and a number of far-right groups in Germany and Italy, concerns have been raised about its funding sources. However, questions have also been raised about funding on the Yes side and Green Party president John Gormley said greater scrutiny was needed of campaign funding, as some organisations were finding ways of getting around the regulations.

"I think there has to be a greater level of openness in this area," he said.