Quinn criticises notion that donations corrupt

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has criticised what he called the “politically correct” presumption that if you get a political donation “you are inevitably corrupted”.

Defending the funding of political parties in a speech in Dublin last night, he said: “I think the pendulum has swung to a certain point and it needs to rebalance to a certain position.”

He said pressure from the media meant “old-style” donations were now closely scrutinised but in the process some reputations were being unfairly tarnished. Citing a recent appointment to a State board, he said he objected to the idea that because the appointee had made a small donation to his election campaign several years ago “ergo he has bought his place on the board”.

He noted there was a time politicians could rely on volunteers to stuff envelopes but now a supporter might rather pay for someone else to do it. “Is that corrupting?” he asked.

He added the funding of political parties was an “essential ingredient of democracy”, stressing that such money should also be accountable.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of a book by DCU political scientist Dr Iain McMenamin If Money Talks, What Does It Say? Corruption and Business Financing of Political Parties (Oxford University Press) at the Royal Irish Academy.