There is a feeling within the wider community that our political system has lived the high life for too long. Yet one of the greatest dangers facing our political system is the passivity of our society in demanding transparent legislative and bureaucratic systems to serve the best interest of our community. In our attempts to restore confidence in our political system, we must start by examining how society helped create the political and economic crisis we now find ourselves in.
As a society we must examine the recent past and ask ourselves what have been the major contributors to the recent failures of our political and economic system.
For me one of the main failures has been that we as a society tolerated and still do a political system that accepts financial donations from businesses and special interest groups. This was especially prevalent during the period 1992- 2007 resulting in a system of political courtship and influence supporting unsustainable development while benefiting the interests of a few creating the social, economic and political difficulties we now face as a generation.
How did this happen and why has our political system failed our community?
If you examine the facts as presented by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) they may help in explaining where it all went wrong and what we must do to prevent it from happening again.
First let me explain that the SIPO are an independent body established to provide a supervisory role under the Ethics in Public Office Act and the Electoral Act 1997.
The Standards in Public Office Commission recently published a list of political donations for the general election in 2007. It makes very interesting reading and is available for the public to view on their website. If you are interested in politics and who funds our public representatives I would recommend that you check out this website where details of donations received by every TD are outlined. For further information and much more view www.sipo.gov.ie
Examination of the figures show that in 2007 political candidates and our elected TD’s received over €705,000 in private donations from companies and individuals to support their election campaigns. Many Dáil deputies received the maximum allowable donation from special interest groups. A significant proportion of this came from cash donations from companies with interests in the property and the financial sector.
In the period 1997- 2007 according to figures published by SIPO over €2,225,000 was donated to political parties. This figure only includes disclosed donations by political representatives so one can only image that the true figure is substantially larger as many TD’s did in fact not disclose any political donations.
According to legislation the maximum value of donation(s) which a candidate at the Dáil general election may accept from the same person in the same calendar year is €2,539.48 yet politicians are only required to disclose donations with a value of more than €634.87.
In some cases individual TD’s received substantial election donations often exceeding the total expenditure spend in their election campaigns. Furthermore the relevant the taxpayer reimbursed political candidates to the tune of €2,638,013 in 2007.
How does this work, well lets take one example; according to figures submitted by Christy O Sullivan TD and released by SIPO the Cork South West TD received at least €23,000 in political donations, including generous contributions from wealthy business interests, in the lead-up to last year’s general election. The former Cork County Councilor who was elected on his first attempt was one of the main beneficiaries of supporter donations in the country, according to figures submitted by Deputy O Sullivan to the Standards in Public Office Commission. His largest contributions came from property developer Dave Dwyer, Baltimore with further large contributions from property developers, Barry Harte, Timoleague, Jim Canty, Rosscarbery, Micheal Keohane, Ballingurtee, Micheal Kirby, Clogagh, Bandon, Pat o Driscoll, Castlefreake and Cronin & Buckley Engineering, Ballincollig.
Niall and Patrica Whyte Downeen gave €2,500 as did Jim Kiely of Drimoleague and Martin O Connell, Bandon Rd, Jerry O Donovan, Dunmanway Rd contributed €2,000 while Enniskeane supermarket owner Derry O Connell donated 1000 along with Dan Twomey, Bandon who also gave €1,000.
Election expenses incurred by Christy O Sullivan again published by SIPO amounted to €17,578, as with other candidates State that means the taxpayer reimbursed him to the tune of €8,700. One must ask the question, is this a misuse of public money or should we change the system? In this example noted the candidate obtained far more in political donations from private donations to fund his campaign that what he spend on his election campaign yet he subsequently also received a large reimbursement from the state leaving him with a sum of €14,022 for his own personal use in addition to his generous salary and expense allowance as an elected Dail deputy.
Information published by SIPO also informs us that Minister Willie O Dea declared €2,500 in donations while Deputy Tom Kitt received €17,750, Deputy Sean Haughey received €3,450, Deputy Martin Cullen €18,585 and Deputy Beverly Cooper Flynn received €12,000. Minister’s Noel Dempsey received €19,763, Micheal Martin €22,135, Conor Lelihan received €6,650, Batt O Keefe received €11,000, Former Taoiseagh Bertie Ahern received €19,000, Taoiseach Brain Cohen received €2,458 and Minister Mary Coughlan received €1,000.
It was Deputy O Sullivan however within Fianna Fáil, that gained most from political donations in County Cork last year with his election fund swelled by a minimum of €22,900 courtesy of generous supporters.
Fine Gael also benefited by receiving donations from special interest groups with deputy Jim O Keefe received €2,500 from Havenview Investments, €2,500 from Spencer Dock Development and €2,500 from Treasury Holdings. Party colleague Deputy Simon Coveney received twelve donations totalling to €23,200, while the labour party Ruari Quinn received €13,640, Pat Rabbit €4,500 and Eamon Gilmore €3,500. Green Party leader and Minister John Gormley received €4,500, Minister Eamon Ryan received €4,000 and Trevor Sargent received €1,200 donations principle received from green party members.
Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Ferris declared €8,650 in political donations while his two party colleague Caoimhghin O Caolain and Aengus O Snodaigh did not declare any donations along with independent TD Michael Lowry, Minister for Health and former Progressive Democrat Mary Harney and Deputy Liz MacManus of Labour.
Meanwhile Independent Kerry TD. Jackie Healy-Rae received €24,900 in donations.
Twenty five Fianna Fáil deputies did not declare any political donations to the Standards in Public Office Commission including Deputies Mary O Rourke, Dick Roche, Dermot Ahern, Frank Fahy and John O’Donoghue. Meanwhile twenty three FG deputies did not declare any political donations including Party Leader Enda Kenny, Deputies Phil Hogan, Brian Hayes and P.J Sheehan.
An examination of the disclosed donations to political candidates and parties clearly shows us that special interest groups have befriended politicians handing over millions of euros in cash to the main political parties. So why is this relevant to us? if a business makes a large financial donation to a politician, does this represent a conflict of interest can it influence the ability of that individual or party to make decisions?
So when we reflect on our political system, what legislation it enacts, who it benefits, who is appointed to bodies by political parties and ultimately how we have got to where we are now, it must be obvious that we the public must demand legislation to prevent political influence from special business interest groups. This must start with stricter regulations on lobbying and political donations something that Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley has pledged to do.
Declan Waugh
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