Politicians received €380k in 2011

TDs and senators disclosed €378,920 worth of political donations last year, with the majority of that going to the two Oireachtas members who ran in the presidential election.

Micheal D Higgins, who was a TD up until last year’s general election, declared €121,421.53, while Senator David Norris declared €17,929.98.

Excluding the presidential candidates, Independent senator Ronan Mullen declared the highest level of donations at €18,277.

He was followed by Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly from Wicklow, who received €11,652, and Shane Ross of Dublin South, who received €10,274.

The details are contained in the annual statement of statutory declarations by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) and relate to donations made to individuals and not political parties.

Members have to disclose donations only if they are above €634.87. If the same contributor makes two or more donations, the values must be aggregated and declared.

Ministers who received donations include Simon Coveney, who disclosed €5,500; Alan Shatter, who declared €5,000; Michael Noonan, who declared €1,600; and Leo Varadkar, who declared €1,000.

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins received donations worth €2,500 while his party colleague, Clare Daly, got €1,500.

Six Sinn Féin TDs received €8,800 between them, including donations worth €4,000 made to Dublin Central TD, Mary Lou McDonald.

Twelve Fianna Fáil TDs and senators declared €32,860 between them. The highest amount went to John McGuinness, current chairman of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, who declared €5,250.

Senator Michael D’Arcy made the highest declaration in the Fine Gael party at €9,400.

Former senator Eoghan Harris was the only member to fail to supply a donations statement, but has undertaken to do so, according to the report.