Rabbitte’s return of £2k donation ‘commendable’

The tribunal commended current minister and Labour TD Pat Rabbitte for giving back a £2,000 donation he received from lobbyist Frank Dunlop in 1992.

The Mahon Tribunal also absolved the current Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett, (FG), of any role in lobbying for a controversial development project the same year.

However, the inquiry found a third member of the current Dáil, Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell, had accepted an “inappropriate” donation of £500 from Mr Dunlop during the 1992 election campaign.