The Indo reports that there will be no outright ban on corporate political donations:
Instead, the law now seeks to put a limit of eur. 200 on non-individual political donations "unless the body has been registered with the Standards in Public Office."
I think this is a good move. I've blogged about this issue before here. Depriving those with skin in the game from participating in the political process is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. A sensible cap on the size of donations preserves the ability to participate while ensuring that those with the biggest purses don't exert disproportionate or undesirably excessive influence on political outcomes.
Contrary to the promises made by Fine Gael and Labour before the general election, Taoiseach Enda Kenny admitted the Attorney General advised the Government it couldn't bring in a blanket ban on corporate donations because it would result in "a serious constitutional challenge".
Instead, the law now seeks to put a limit of eur. 200 on non-individual political donations "unless the body has been registered with the Standards in Public Office."
I think this is a good move. I've blogged about this issue before here. Depriving those with skin in the game from participating in the political process is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. A sensible cap on the size of donations preserves the ability to participate while ensuring that those with the biggest purses don't exert disproportionate or undesirably excessive influence on political outcomes.
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