Ferris calls on Fine Gael to publish full list of donations

IF FINE GAEL wants to “draw a line in the sand” it should first publish “the full list of corporate donations it has received over the past number of years”, according to Sinn Féin.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North) said publishing all Sinn Féin’s donations “might create some confidence among citizens that Fine Gael is genuine about putting an end to the culture of the Galway tent and the cosy dinners and golf classics”.

During the debate on the Moriarty tribunal, Mr Ferris said it was clear why Denis O’Brien funded Fine Gael in the 1990s.

“It is also clear, despite all the denials, that he was well-rewarded for his troubles. What exactly do Fine Gael’s most recent backers expect from Fine Gael?” he asked.

“The EBS, for example, has supported Fine Gael golf classics and is one of the financial institutions that has landed us in the mess we are in. It is one of the institutions which has saddled citizens with an unpayable debt and an IMF-directed austerity programme.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said “the tribunal was set up because a well-known businessman went on the tear in Florida. In almost every instance when something gets into the public arena, the politicians have played catch-up to try to deal with it.”

Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind, Dublin Central) said it was alarming that “when the suggestion of wrongdoing was made all those years ago, the tribunal route was chosen, knowing that if anything illegal was established, charges could not be brought”.

“It reminds me of the beef tribunal, which cost millions and which resulted in the arrest only of a journalist in its aftermath. This propensity to set up a tribunal with all its intricacies, instead of using the appropriate authorities, baffles me. It seems to be an elaborate ruse to prevent accountability and transparency. The beef tribunal established links between business and politics; links that continue to thrive and that must be broken. Otherwise, we will continue to be a grubby, corrupt country.”

Mick Wallace (Ind, Wexford) said funding should be “done away with 100 per cent”. He said “it should be stopped completely, not half measures, not to this limit or that limit. Let’s do away with it 100 per cent”.

Tom Fleming (Ind, Kerry South) said: “We’ve had an avalanche of scandals in this country. Internationally our reputation is in tatters and as a nation we were probably never before held in lower esteem worldwide. It is now time to finally clean up our act.”