Sinn Féin have beaten Fianna Fáil into second place - in terms of being the political party that received the highest amount of money in donations last year.
Political donations in excess of €5,078.95 (£4,000) received by parties in 2001 came to just under €1 million, according to new figures released today by the Standards in Public Offices Commission. Parties are not required to disclose donations valued at €5,078 or less.
The figures show a total of €581,958, US$295,740 and Aus$48,950 were received by six of the 13 parties who made declarations. This is equal to approximately €947,768.
The money from the US and Australia was received exclusively by Sinn Féin along with €25,395 in a single contribution from its only TD Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. This means they received around €382,000 this year compared to approximately €233,000 in 2000.
In the same period, Fianna Fáil declared around €258,000. For 2001, their total declaration was €194,615 but none of this was received in US dollars compared to US$91,000 in 2000.
This means Sinn Féin have now overtaken Fianna Fáil as the recipient of the largest amount in political donations.
The Progressive Democrats were the third highest recipients of political donations receiving €137,132.
The Labour Party disclosed donations valued at €164,929 but a cheque for €63,487, was returned to former Esat chairman Mr Denis O'Brien, reducing the value of donations retained to €101,442. Some €78,587 of that amount came from the trade union SIPTU.
The other parties who made declarations were: The Green Party (€22,810) and the Socialist Party (€37,077).
Fine Gael, who last year banned corporate contributions did not declare any donations.
Donations made to individual TDs in 2001 were released in February and showed Fianna Fáil members receiving €38,686 in donations exceeding €634.87 (£500). The PDs declared €11,306; independents declared €21,351 with Labour members receiving €9,307. Fine Gael members declared €4,639.