Ditch news site challenges Sipo delay in providing 2022 donation statement of Taoiseach

Journalist Roman Shortall says the issues concern whether journalists must wait months or years until the relevant donation statements have been reviewed

Ditch Media Limited alleges it requested a copy of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s 2022 annual donation statement last August. File photo: Niall Carson/PA

The Ditch media company has issued High Court proceedings challenging the Standards in Public Office Commission’s (Sipo’s) decision to refuse to provide it with an annual donation statement ahead of it being presented before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Ditch Media Limited alleges it requested a copy of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s 2022 annual donation statement last August. It says it wants to seek the 2022 donation statements of other Oireachtas members but is precluded from doing so due to the “unlawful position” adopted by Sipo.