FG London fundraiser charges £100 for dinner with Taoiseach

Fine Gael has initiated a fundraising effort in London by inviting party supporters to a £100-a-plate (€126.50) dinner in the presence of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The event, which takes place next month, is being organised by “Friends of Fine Gael, London”.

Foreign political donations are prohibited under ethics legislation, but parties are allowed to accept donations from Irish citizens who live outside the island of Ireland.

When asked about the restriction on foreign donations a Fine Gael spokeswoman said “the dinner is for Irish citizens living in England”.

Fine Gael head of fundraising Helen Connolly sent an email last week to TDs, Senators and MEPs to inform them about the dinner, which takes place at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood on October 3rd.

“We are keen to extend the invitation to as many supporters as possible, so if you have any contacts in London who would be interested in coming, please forward me their details and I will add them to the mailing list,” Ms Connolly wrote.

Brochure

The email included a brochure for the dinner, which includes a booking form with an option to reserve individual tickets or tables for 10 at £1,000 a table.

The party spokeswoman said that the dinner was not an annual event. “There is no final figure on the number of guests yet.”

In a note in the brochure Mr Kenny said attendees can support the party’s work for Ireland by attending the “Fine Gael London Dinner”.

“I am glad to state that with every day that passes, Ireland is increasing its attractiveness as a place in which to do business,” Mr Kenny said. “While unemployment is still too high, jobs are being created and our international image is substantially improved.”

Guidelines issued by the Standards in Public Office Commission, which oversees implementation of ethics legislation, state that it may require evidence that a political party is permitted to accept a donation from a particular donor.

Corroborating evidence

“The onus is on the person accepting the donation to make whatever inquiries are necessary and to obtain any corroborating evidence that may be required in order to be satisfied that he/she is not precluded from accepting a donation from the person concerned,” the guidelines say.

The net value to the party of donations to such events is calculated by deducting the cost of running the event from the total amount raised.