Keep donations cap in place, urges former FF fund chief
Natasha Fennell, who held the position with the party from 2000 until June of this year, told The Irish Examiner yesterday that while the removal of the cap would have greatly facilitated the party’s fund-raising operations, she had doubts about the benefits of such a move.
“There would be a question in my mind as to whether or not it would be a regressive step,” said Ms Fennell.
“Political parties, including Fianna Fáil, have worked very hard to be transparent. We have worked our way into a position where the public have faith again in the political process and are clear about fundraising.
“Perhaps, and I stress perhaps, it’s too soon to lift the cap, because it might have an adverse effect on public perception,” she said.
Her comments follow opposition criticism of an interview given by Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen last weekend, during which he signalled his intention to amend the Electoral Act.
Among the changes he favours are substantial increases in corporate donations to political parties. He argued that the public should not be expected to fund the political process.
However, the opposition attacked his motives for initiating the change, saying that part of its motivation was to tackle a Fianna Fáil debt approaching €1.5 million. Eamon Gilmore, the Labour Party’s spokesman on the environment, said easing the restrictions would allow Fianna Fáil to build up a “war chest” for the local and European elections next year.
However, Ms Fennell said that it could not be assumed that Fianna Fáil would benefit to such an extent.
She said that the high levels of donations the party received in the past are not as frequent any more.
“Even if the limit were to be raised, Fianna Fáil would not necessarily receive a lot more money,” she said.
New public disclosure requirements in relation to political donations were introduced in Britain two years ago, in the wake of controversy surrounding donations to the British Labour Party.
However, no upper limit is imposed on how much can be contributed by an individual or body.
According to the British electoral commission, the Labour Party received over stg£6m in donations during the first three months of 2003.
The sum included an individual donation of stg£2.5m from the supermarket magnate, Lord Sainsbury.
