Gormley pledges to end corporate donations to political parties

Green Party leader John Gormley said today that he intends to change the way politics is funded when the Dáil resumes in September.

Addressing Green Party members in Limerick, Minster for the Environment Gormley said he will also push for a register of lobbyists.

He told Green Party members that recent revelations about Fine Gael fundraising activities again highlight the need for reform in the way politics is funded.

John Gormley said the inordinate influence of big business and wealthy individuals on legislation and government policies must come to an end.

He says the legislation which the Green Party will propose will end corporate donations, as well as donations from trade unions.

Mr Gormley also told the gathering in Limerick that the influence of lobbyists is pervasive and at times pernicious, which is why a register of lobbyists is needed to regulate their activities.

Earlier this week, Green TD Paul Gogarty said his party would gladly "go to the country" if Fianna Fáil did not agree to bring forward legislation to tackle corporate donations.