Sir, – Under the Standards in Public Office (Sipo) regulations, no party can accept a donation in excess of €2,500 from any individual. The publicly-available 2014 Sipo report confirms Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy legally made the maximum allowable donation to his party and that this was correctly and compliantly reported.
Given that a maximum of €2,500 can be donated to a party, the “gap” between the average industrial wage claimed to be received by Mr Murphy and the actual salary (€87,258) receivable by a TD is significant.
Mr Duffy (Letters, May 3rd) raised a number of questions in respect of the decision to grant free legal aid to Mr Murphy. In light of the above, I would like to add to that list.
Can Mr Murphy confirm that the “gap” was used exclusively for his own political activities, with no further funding diverted to the party?
Would he agree that, given this “gap” cannot be considered a political donation to the party under Sipo rules, it constitutes a purely voluntary spend on his own behalf?
Could Judge Melanie Greally confirm whether such voluntary spends are routinely deducted in determining eligibility for legal aid? What other voluntary spends would so qualify?
Most importantly, does Mr Murphy agree that claiming free legal aid in this manner demonstrates breathtaking cynicism, reminiscent of political activity in bygone eras?
Isn’t the “new type of politics” promised by Mr Murphy supposed to be better than the old?
– Yours, etc,
BARRY FLANAGAN
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.