Greens call for FF to ban corporate donations

FIANNA Fáil should ban corporate donations to avoid further eroding public confidence in the political system, the Green Party has said.

The party was reacting to the recent offer by a development company of Ryder Cup tickets to councillors in Dublin. Menolly Homes offered free tickets for the prestigious golf tournament, which takes place at the K-Club in Kildare later this month, to some members of South Dublin County Council.

When news of the offer emerged, anti-corruption body Transparency Ireland warned politicians should reject all offers of corporate gifts or hospitality in order to avoid suspicion.

The Green Party, which itself does not accept corporate donations, is now calling on Fianna Fáil, the country’s largest political party, to lead by example.

“There is a clear distinction between the interests of private companies and the public interest,” said Green Party councillor Tony McDermott.

“Politicians are custodians of the public interests. They are legally obliged to ensure that their actions are above suspicion.

“Company directors, on the other hand, are legally obliged to apply the resources of a company in the sole interests of the company. The business case for spending a company’s funds on politicians must be based either in return for some benefit that has been delivered in the past or an expected return at some time in the future.

“Given the legal obligations that apply, accepting corporate funding into the political arena is clearly not above suspicion,” he added.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. And I recognise, that by (the Greens) not having corporate donations, we’re tying one hand behind our backs, but I still believe that politics shouldn’t be a gravy train.”