We are talking about different things here. One went to Fine Gael Dublin Central. The other was to the Fine Gael nationally.
On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 613 of 619 decisive votes (2 abstentions excluded). Read it as a government-or-opposition indicator rather than a measure of influence — the figure is near 100% for members supporting the government of the day and near 0% for those opposing it.
This is the point of the site: contributions keep the party held on the day, not the one held now.
| Party | Recorded as | Contributions | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| FG | Fine Gael | 2,264 | 2020-02-20 – 2025-11-20 |
Membership spells on record: FG 2007-07-23–2011-04-25 · FG 2011-02-25–2016-03-09 · FG 2016-03-10–2020-01-14 · FG 2020-02-08–2024-11-08 · FG 2024-11-29–2025-11-21
We are talking about different things here. One went to Fine Gael Dublin Central. The other was to the Fine Gael nationally.
I am not aware what the aggregate is, but I am sure the Deputy is correct. They went to different party entities. As I have said from the very beginning, one was the sale of the tickets and the other was the commercial value we are attributing to postering and the use of a van.
My understanding here is that the value of the money referred to by the Deputy is below the personal threshold. As I have said, and I will go back to the point I made, one was for Fine Gael Dublin Central and the other was for tickets that went to Fine Gael nationally.
The €430 figure the Deputy referred to is the commercial use of a corporate van.
The Deputy is adding together two personal figures and a corporate figure. They are different. The two personal figures relate to the sale of tickets that I brought forward myself, and the commercial value of postering, which Mr. Stone paid for. The other figure the Deputy refers to is for a corporate donation that came from the Designer Group, that corporate donation being the commercial value of the use of a van
Just to conclude-----
-----not only are we talking about funding that went to two different entities, which are Fine Gael Dublin Central and Fine Gael nationally, we are also talking about them being paid from two different people.
Two different entities.
The Deputy cannot make repeat assertions and assume they have or may have a truth here. As I said a moment ago, of the three different figures the Deputy has referred to, the figure of €430 is for the commercial use of a van-----
-----which was a corporate donation from the Dublin Designer Group, a portion of which will be refunded. The other two figures referred to by the Deputy are personal figures. Those personal figures are under the donation threshold-----
It is important to be clear about that point, because an impression is being created that the figures being brought forward are in some way-----
I did not know Mr. Stone in 2007 and 2011. I have no recollection at all of talking to the then Minister, Eoghan Murphy, in relation to this. At that point the value of the work Mr. Stone was doing in the north-east inner city was becoming very broadly known as was the impact that he was having because of the kind of value he added. The impact he was having on issues was becoming well known. In relation to 2017, as I said in response to an earlier question, I do wish at that point I had revised the donation that wa…
Excuse me, I will come back to that question. No, I did not inform the Taoiseach of what was on the way.
At that point I was aware that there were issues that I was reviewing, which there were. I had received queries.
I did not inform the Taoiseach in relation to it but as this issue has developed, particularly over the weekend, I have briefed him and all the party leaders.
I thank the Deputy. As to when I will amend my 2020 return, I expect that will be done this week. What kind of engagement have I had from SIPO? It wrote to me last week indicating it would be considering the matter but it has not given me any guideline regarding how long it will take or what the process will be, nor would I expect it to. I am sorry, I have missed the Deputy's third question.
Excuse me, yes, all the information that I am aware of here and that I have now taken great lengths to seek to obtain I have made available. I am certainly not aware at all of any further information that needs to be brought. It is the reason I have amended my election returns in the way I have.
The answer to that question is "No".
Particularly in 2017, I did not give the matter sufficient attention. My regret in relation to that, I hope, is evident. I will explain again and again that what this is about is who put up my posters in what is largely a voluntary campaign and not recognising that a small number of them did go up in a non-voluntary way - they were paid for.
All that being said----