CoE recommends further tightening of rules on political funding

The Council of Europe has today praised Ireland’s regulation of political party funding, recommending however a number of additional measures in order to increase transparency.

A report by the CoE’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) described the country’s regulatory system in respect of party funding as “thorough”, and praised the role played by the Standards in Public Office Commission in monitoring compliance.

However the report recommended additional measures including the publication in full of party accounts and increased monitoring of political funding at local level.

“GRECO advises Ireland to consolidate the currently dispersed rules on party funding into a comprehensive, clear and up-to-date legislative instrument,” the report said.

The document also encourage to Government to push ahead with planned legislative changes aimed at reinforcing the legal framework for corruption offences.