4 politicians declared donations totalling €3,000 final 12 months, new figures present.

In response to the Requirements in Public Workplace Fee (Sipo), two TDs and two senators obtained €3,800 in complete donations final 12 months, however after refunds have been made the online complete obtained was €3,000.

Labour chief Ivana Bacik declared a €1,000 donation, Fianna Fáil senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee recorded a €800 donation, whereas Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells listed a €1,000 donation.

Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe obtained €1,000 in a money donation, however returned €800 to the donor because of Sipo guidelines over money donations.

The full determine of €3,000 was down considerably from the €64,875 donations obtained in 2020.

Normal election

The unbiased organisation mentioned the final election held in February 2020 was the possible purpose for the comparatively excessive worth of donations disclosed for 2020.

A complete of 233 public representatives — 160 TDs, 59 senators, 13 members of the European Parliament and one former TD – have been required to return donation statements for the 12-month interval.

Beneath the Electoral Act, public representatives should not allowed to simply accept donations in any 12 months of greater than €200 in money and no more than €1,000 in complete worth from a single supply.

They have to disclose any donations valued at (or totalling) €600 or extra from a person supply to Sipo.

Donations under this reporting threshold don’t should be disclosed to the unbiased physique.

Consequently, the Sipo report displays solely these donations over the reporting threshold and doesn’t account for all donations obtained by members.

Sipo report

The report additionally confirmed that two particular person donors made funds totalling €3,570 final 12 months to political events and representatives.

The equal determine for 2020 was €39,189.

Jack O’Connor made 4 donations linked to the Labour Social gathering final 12 months. He donated €1,250 to the Labour Social gathering, €750 to Kildare South Labour Social gathering, €120 to the Newbridge department of the Labour Social gathering and €500 to Labour Social gathering chief Ivana Bacik.

Commerce union Siptu declared a €950 donation to former Labour TD for Sligo-Leitrim Declan Bree.

People should return a donation assertion to Sipo in the event that they make donations of greater than €1,500 in complete to 2 or extra individuals who have been members of the identical political celebration when the donations have been made or to a political celebration and to considered one of extra of its members.