State funding of the parties

[Gombeen]

An interesting article in the Times on this today. According to the article the parties received almost €13m in 2006, broken down as follows:

FF - €4,903,423
FG - €3,364,921
Labour - €2,082,391
PDs - €835,358
GP - €704,436
SF - €773,246
SP - €64,212
Ind. - €514,158

The funding is free from income tax and cannot be used for electoral or referendum purposes. The amount is based on both numbers of representatives in the Oireachtas and the number of first preferences polled.

[PatMcL]

PD's are in for a bit of a tumble next time around.

[Norfolk Enchants]

Already a topic.

http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?t=23555

But more revealations todays as to spending on spin with FF spending €428,169 of taxpayers money with next closest Fine Gael with €17,662 !!!

And someone called me a "loon"* for being outraged at this.


* ps. I am a loon :P but it is hard not to be, if you are concerned about the sh!t that goes on in this country.