The Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, today said the Government was considering limiting donations to political parties to "modest amounts" and said no distinction should be made between corporate and personal contributions.
"The Government will be coming forward with their own initiatives in this area and I think it is fair to say that we have to put fairly modest restrictions on what individuals or corporations can give in any one year to political parties," she said.
Ms Harney added she did not think it was realistic to distinguish between individuals in their private capacity and corporations. But what I think we do need is a cap on the amount that can be given. "What we do need is cap on what can be given. I think that cap should be a modest amount. I think there should be full disclosure on what is given."
The Tánaiste was speaking in Tokyo following a report in today's Sunday Business Postthat the Government is considering limiting political donations to £4,000 or less.
The Labour Party's Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the Tánaiste's comments indicated "slow but tortuous progress" by the Government.