Madam, - In light of the recent disclosure by the Standards in Public Office commission that a massive €12.7 million of taxpayers' money was paid in funding to our political parties for the past year alone, I am calling for an end to annual church gate collections by all political parties in Ireland.
I firmly believe that church gate collections should be reserved for charitable groups, community and sporting clubs, and other genuine non-political and voluntary organisations. Mass-goers in every parish in Ireland readily support financially the weekly running of their parish, their church renovations and maintenance. They should not have to endure the annual display of collection boxes by political activists outside our church gates, when it is blatantly obvious that political parties are awash with money - clearly evident from the millions spent on the general election.
We are all aware from media reports of the exclusive political tents at the Galway races with the €1,000-a-plate functions, the elite fund-raisers where wealthy developers pay €1,500 each to have lunch and champagne with senior ministers and party leaders. Then we have the famous trips abroad by senior party politicians, particularly to the US, to "speak at functions" and collect huge sums of money, not to mention the "dig-outs" and "whip-arounds", many of which the public know nothing about.
I would now urge all like-minded people to ignore the political collection boxes outside churches and focus our help and contributions to the many excellent voluntary charities and groups which support the sick, the elderly and disability organisations. They deserve our money far more than political parties do. - Yours, etc,
Cllr BRENDAN CRONIN,
Independent member of Kerry County Council,
Rathcomane, Killarney,
Co Kerry.