SIPO report on political funding

[Eddiepops]

SIPO recently brought out their report on last year's election. As well as the decision not too pursue some particular complaints against specified politicians, the report is interesting in it's critique of the current deficiencies Ireland faces in guaranteeing transparency in political funding:

If the intention of the Electoral legislation is to provide for transparency and openness in relation to party funding and expenditure, then it is not achieving this aim. (Pages 2 & 3)

The Report itself can be found here.

Madam has already responded in no uncertain terms in today's editorial http://=http://www.irishtimes.com/ne...76169.htmlhere

There is a sickness in Irish politics that has its roots in unethical funding and corruption in planning. It pervades the system from county council to national level. An unwillingness within parties to take disciplinary action on the basis of clear evidence of wrongdoing is its most obvious manifestation. And where councillors have been found guilty of illegal activity, their colleagues from all parties have behaved as if the matter was of no consequence. This kind of behaviour is deeply corrosive of standards in public life. It must be challenged at all levels.

She also notes that change might be on the horizon, if the potential contained in the programme for government is recognised

The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) has been calling for reform of funding and ethics legislation for years and some of its recommendations may, at last, be given effect. An independent electoral commission is due to be appointed later this year, as part of the programme for government, and there are indications the Government is preparing to legislate for limited reform.

And Green party Senator Dan Boyle has welcomed the conclusions and SIPO's call for real action here

The Deputy Leader of the Seanad said: "Creating a democratic and transparent political system is a central Green Party policy. With local and European elections less than a year away the time is right to introduce spending limits and to extend the period during which the SIPO monitors spending. Together with upcoming changes to postering rules as announced last week, the electoral process and politics in general would be greatly enhanced as a result of progressive reforms.

The current system makes a mockery of the purpose of election monitoring – as international organisations like the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe have pointed out.

"I welcome SIPO's annual report and – as a result of the Green Party being in Government – look forward to many of its proposals being implemented," Senator Boyle concluded.

One other effect is that the spending of non partisan political actors, such as Libertas, Cóir and those on the Yes side of the Lisbon campaign, could find themselves called to account for monies spent on political campaigns.

So what do people think? Is money free speech? Should it all be accounted for? Or is the system working fine as it is?

[FutureTaoiseach]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

[hiding behind a poster]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

But the possibility of interference in our sovereign democratic process through large payments by unidentified foreigners doesn't matter? Astonishing.

[FutureTaoiseach]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

But the possibility of interference in our sovereign democratic process through large payments by unidentified foreigners doesn't matter? Astonishing.

Libertas has said that all its funding comes from Irish citizens and unless you have evidence to the contrary people should accept that. For all we know FF/FG is getting most of their money from abroad - SIPO claim in their report for 2007 that FG only disclosed 7% of their actual General Election spending.

[ibis]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

But the possibility of interference in our sovereign democratic process through large payments by unidentified foreigners doesn't matter? Astonishing.

Libertas has said that all its funding comes from Irish citizens and unless you have evidence to the contrary people should accept that. For all we know FF/FG is getting most of their money from abroad - SIPO claim in their report for 2007 that FG only disclosed 7% of their actual General Election spending.

The reason SIPO exists is because people in Irish public life have been much less than forthcoming about their sources of political income. You now ask us to accept about Libertas what no-one, including yourself, accepts about anybody else - that they, and they alone, are honest. Pull the other one.

[constitutionus]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

hmm. third party that'll never be in power verus bought and paid for political party that can divvy up the countrys natural resources and profer preferenetial treatment to vested interests who donate to them.

tough one

personally i wouldnt mind them ALL being open to mandatory scrutiny down to the last red cent with a facility to cross check the relationships between donators to prevent large donations being "cleaned" by going through an employers employees , family members or business collegues.

[wysiwyg]

Very interesting provision outlined in the SIPO report with regard to Sinn Fein.

Heretofore I was under the impression that SF could only accept donations made within the 26 counties, and therefore accept no donations from the organisation or its donor in the 6 counties.

However, according to the report..

A foreign donation, is a donation of whatever value, given by an individual (other than an Irish citizen) who resides outside the island of Ireland

The vast vast majority of SF members and supporters in the 6 counties would have Irish citizenship and reside on the island of Ireland (albeit not in the legal Republic of Ireland)... Under this ruling, can SF in the 6 donate money to candidates in the 26?

Just wondering

[mccafferty cat]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

But the possibility of interference in our sovereign democratic process through large payments by unidentified foreigners doesn't matter? Astonishing.

FutureTaoiseach doesn't want eurofederalist foreigners interfering in our national sovreignty.

But if they're rich foreigners, he's perfectly fine with their interference.

What an utter twit. This child is going to get eaten alive whenever he gets out into the real world

[constitutionus]

Very interesting provision outlined in the SIPO report with regard to Sinn Fein.

Heretofore I was under the impression that SF could only accept donations made within the 26 counties, and therefore accept no donations from the organisation or its donor in the 6 counties.

However, according to the report..

A foreign donation, is a donation of whatever value, given by an individual (other than an Irish citizen) who resides outside the island of Ireland

The vast vast majority of SF members and supporters in the 6 counties would have Irish citizenship and reside on the island of Ireland (albeit not in the legal Republic of Ireland)... Under this ruling, can SF in the 6 donate money to candidates in the 26?

Just wondering

yup. the citizenship referendum might put the kibosh on this down the line but as long as theyve been born before that act came into power anyone born anywhere on the island was and is considered irish.

i think they'd have to keep applying for irish passports over the generations to keep this from the next generation on though least they be considered british.

[FutureTaoiseach]

[quote=mccafferty cat]

I don't see the cases of Libertas/Coir etc. as analogous to political-party funding, given that unlike the former, the latter actually have power to confer advantages on their benefactors in the form of contracts, patronage etc.

But the possibility of interference in our sovereign democratic process through large payments by unidentified foreigners doesn't matter? Astonishing.

FutureTaoiseach doesn't want eurofederalist foreigners interfering in our national sovreignty.

But if they're rich foreigners, he's perfectly fine with their interference.

What an utter twit. This child is going to get eaten alive whenever he gets out into the real world[/quote:3bww4avs]

Not satisfied with having a signature that wrongly links me to Libertas, you choose to supplement it by putting words in my mouth I did not utter. I am not in favour of non-Irish citizens contributing to any party or organisation funding a referendum/election campaign thank you very much, but I believe that the Lisbon-parties are guilty of hypocrisy given their own secrecy regarding sources of funding, and that the anomaly is greater when its to political parties because of the powers of patronage and conferring favour on individuals and organisations that they have that unelected organisations without political-connections do not have.