April 30, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

PARTIES AVOIDING SLEAZE AS AN ISSUE

Green Party chairman attacks the Progressive Democrats for trying to put “clear blue water” between themselves and Fianna Fail.

The main political parties are avoiding putting political corruption at the top of the political agenda, according to Green Party Chairman, John Gormley, TD.  Speaking today at the launch of the Party’s Green Politics - Clean Politics campaign, he said that the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas wanted to assure the electorate that corruption wouldn’t be “cleansed” from the campaign.

He attacked the Progressive Democrats for now trying to put “clear blue water” between themselves and Fianna Fail.  “There’s no escaping the fact that the PD’s were complicit in many of the scandals, resignations and u-turns which besetted the coalition government,” he said. 

“It’s time to remind the PD’s, and Michael McDowell particularly, that they were partners during that ‘Ceausescu-era’ he referred to last night when talking about Campus Stadium Ireland.  Far from being the watchdogs of Irish politics they like to portray themselves as they were the lapdogs.”

He also said that the Labour Party was avoiding making corruption a major election issue because it would put a future Coalition Government with Fianna Fail under enormous pressure.

"On the doorsteps, people constantly raise the issue of sleaze in politics.  However, the main political parties are doing their very best to avoid the issue because of their own track records and because of future possible Coalition deals,” he said.

“The Labour Party has subtly and almost imperceptibly moved closer to Fianna Fail in the last few days, making it difficult for them to go hard on their future Coalition partners.  On the other hand, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the PDs all have serious questions to answer about their track records in relation to donations received and decisions in Government."

"We are committed to exposing corruption without fear or favour.  This Election will be an opportunity for the electorate to give their verdict on the last five years of tribunals and scandals", he said.

The Green Party Leader  Trevor Sargent T.D. accused the Taoiseach of trying to pull the wool over the electorate’s eyes.

“The Taoiseach is depending on the electorate having short memories about his own difficulties in answering questions about blank cheques, giving no receipt or thanks for substantial ‘political donations’ and failures to even seek recovery of monies stolen from his party by high profile members,” he said.

The Green Party outlined its recommendations towards ensuring a new era of politics in Ireland, including the following:

Ban corporate donations and allow personal donations no greater than Euro 650 in any financial year.

Hand over the power to set limits on spending to the Public Offices Commission.

Limit the amount of money spent between elections at both local and national level.  If you limit only at election time parties/candidates will spend between elections, as we’ve seen in the run-up to this election.

Introduce a law that all parties will have to produce a register outlining all donations over Euro 1,270 to the party and party candidates over the last twenty years.

Introduce legislation allowing all Elected Representatives who availed of the tax amnesty to be named.

Enact changes required to the Defamation Act in order to allow the media to carry out its investigative work more effectively.

Ensure that candidates in Elections will have to produce an up to date tax clearance certificate.

Introduce a statutory register of lobbyists.

For more information contact:

Steve Rawson, Tel: 087-2357551/01-6184088