Political donations under the radar

A chance sample of companies has offered a rare insight into a stream of political donations that toothless reporting laws have let go under the radar.

This week’s figures from the Standards in Public Office Commission listed just €30,997 in donations received by political parties in 2011, despite it being an election year.

But separate information, released by the Companies Registration Office, has revealed other donations that parties were legally allowed to keep from public scrutiny.