Donations list a case of nothing to declare

‘NOTHING to declare’ is the message in the latest round-up of political donations which shows just 25 of the country’s 233 deputies, senators and MEPs reporting that they received contributions of a value they were legally obliged to disclose.

The list, compiled by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO), is topped by Minister of State at the Department of Children, Sean Power, who received €25,607 last year from 22 separate donors, who gave him cheques for a fundraiser breakfast and golf classic.

That puts him far ahead of the next in line, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who declared a donation of €19,000 which is the value attached to his use of his constituency offices at St Luke’s in Drumcondra, a property which is owned by the Fianna Fáil organisation in Dublin.