Senator Rónán Mullen has topped the list of Galway politicians who received donations in 2016.
According to the new report from the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) – compiled annually under the Electoral Act – the Independent senator from Ahascragh received three individual donations of €1,000 each.
In his declaration, Senator Mullen said he had requested the three donations, which came from property developer Sean Davin, Raglan Lane in Ballsbridge, Dublin; Margaret Davin (same address) and Fr Brendan Purcell, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 4, a former director of the Iona Institute.
The cheques were all received between January and March 2016, the lead-up to the Seanad elections.
Senator Mullen topped the poll on the National University of Ireland panel.
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins – daughter of the President – declared requesting pro bono work on her election campaign to a total value of €1,700.
Artist Paul O’Dwyer from Upper Leeson Street in Dublin designed campaign materials to a value of €900, while John Higgins from Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny, produced video clips for Facebook – a service which would have cost €800.
Independent senator Gerard Craughwell declared a €100 anonymous donation from a private individual which was to assist in running his election campaign.
Former Minister for State at the Office of Public Works, Sean Canney, declared a €1,000 donation from Frank Canavan, Belclare.
The Independent Alliance TD from Tuam received the cheque at the end of February 2016, coinciding with the General Election.
Independent Rocommon-Galway TD and Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten, declared two separate donations of €1,000 each.
In February of last year, he received a cheque for €1,000 from Cyril Regan, who runs Regan Heating in Illinois, USA, while he received a cheque for the same amount from Mary Naughten, Athlone in April of last year.
Under the Electoral Act, public representatives may not accept donations in any year of more than €200 in cash, and not more than €1,000 in total value from a single source. They must disclose any donations valued at (or totalling) €600 or more received from an individual source.
Anonymous donations cannot be accepted if they exceed €100.
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