Cowen proposes tighter referendum controls

Political parties and campaign groups will be obliged to submit detailed accounts to the Standards in Public Office Commission if they want to participate in referendums under legislation to be proposed to the Dáil.

In his opening speech to the Fianna Fáil ardfheis tonight, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would put the proposals to all parties in the Dáil to ensure “greater assurance of compliance with the law”.

Mr Cowen told party delegates in Dublin he wants the changes implemented before the next referendum “so that we can reach a stage where we can finally say that no individual will be able to distort a campaign through large scale personal fortunes”.

Under the proposals the Standards in Public Office Commission will be given the power to examine every national political party’s accounts for compliance with the law and to publish and take action on breaches where they find them.

Parties and campaigning groups who participate in referendums will be obliged to submit to the commission detailed fundraising and spending returns soon after any referendum vote. These will then be published.

Mr Cowen said that the new rules would also apply to groups which campaign to influence elections and referendums.

“As we all saw in last year’s referendum, the system of regulation of political fundraising and spending is capable of being undermined by those who only pay lip service to transparency.

The Taoiseach earmarked a reduction in both the levels at which donations to national political parties must be disclosed and to the maximum allowable donations. The declaration limit will be halved from just over €5,000 per year to €2,500 and the maximum allowable donation would fall from roughly €6,500 per year to €4,000 per year.

Mr Cowen also told delegates that a proposal to join a pan-European party, the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform Party would be advanced in the coming months.

This weekend’s ardfheis in City West, Co Dublin, marks Mr Cowen’s first as party leader.