Libertas should have to name its donors

THE Government must urgently amend the electoral laws.

At present political parties have to disclose, and rightly so, where they get their money from if they receive donations above the value of €5,078 from a particular donor in any calendar year.

However, under the Electoral Act 1997 as amended in 2001, third party groupings such as Libertas do not have to disclose the identity of the person or companies who make financial contributions to them.

So, while political parties such as FF have to disclose the names of donors who give in excess of €5,078, Libertas does not have to disclose under Irish law the names of its donors.

This is a clear anomaly and it must be removed immediately.

The maximum contribution which can be made to a political party or groupings such as Libertas in Ireland by one person or by one company in any calendar year is €6,348.

Political parties and groups such as Libertas should be governed by the same disclosure requirements for the making of political donations. At present, this is not the case, which is simply wrong and unfair.

I was also very surprised, on reading the Libertas website, that it does not explain any of the rules governing the making of financial donations to its organisation.

The only people who can donate to political parties in Ireland or to groups such as Libertas are Irish citizens who live in Ireland or abroad, or people who have companies based in Ireland.

The Libertas website seeking donations online mirrors the Obama website, but at least the Democratic candidate for the White House tells prospective donors what the rules are governing the making of online contributions.

Seán Ó Neachtain MEP

An Spidéal

Co na Gaillimhe