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Sinn Fein gets €250,000 extra from US donors

Grainne Cunningham

US DONATIONS to Sinn Fein increased by almost €250,000 last year, helping to boost the party's income to over €1m.

The amount of money the party raised in America grew by "an impressive stg£195,000 (€250,000) due almost entirely to the magnificent work of Friends of Sinn Fein USA", the 2007 party financial review states.

US fundraising was possible for the full year, after a ban imposed by President George Bush in March 2005 was lifted late in 2006.

The ban was imposed after republican involvement in the murder of Robert McCartney and the £26m IRA-linked Northern Bank raid.

Contributions made by elected party representatives rose by over €60,000. In all, the party received over €622,000 from MLAs, TDs and MEPs.

According to the review, "a major impact on this was the decision of all our ministers to donate their ministerial salaries to the party".

Sinn Fein also plans to publish a breakdown of the party's spend on the Lisbon Treaty Referendum campaign next week.

Party National Chairperson and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonaldy said: "A political party needs an income in order to cover its expenditures. The general public understand that fundraising and donations are part and parcel of generating that income.

"Where cynicism starts to creep in is when it is perceived that political parties are not open and transparent about their financial affairs."

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"The primary source of donations to Sinn Fein in the South comes from each of the party's TDs and MEP who each donated €6,000 and of the north's twenty seven MLAs, who donated €5,787.04. Our fundraising comes from the party's annual National Draw and [the] annual fundraiser dinner 'Le Cheile'. In addition, we hold other sports and social events throughout the year.''

She added: "It is Sinn Fein's firm belief that all political parties in the State should be required to submit an annual set of accounts to the Standards in Public Office Commission. Sinn Fein is one of the only political parties in this state to produce an annual set of financial statements available to the general public. In the absence of legislation, I believe all political parties should follow our lead."

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