Bill To Extend Gift Threshold Sparks Row

Legislation to extend the thresholds for gifts and major shareholdings has sparked a row among the parties, and between the government coalition.

The new legislation contains plans to raise the value of a gift required to be disclosed from €650 to €2000, and that of shareholdings from €13,000 to €20,000.

Mysteriously, the Bill was placed on this weeks Daíl order paper late last week, but was withdrawn and replaced within a few hours.

The Labour Party has said it will strongly oppose proposals to greatly increase the existing thresholds for disclosure; a stance similar to Green party demands prior to the election for greater transparency regarding gifts received and interests held.

Labour Party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said there was no case for increasing the limits, which in some cases would jump by more than 200%.

She said the new limits would significantly reduce the information available to the public about gifts and a TD's personal interests.

Ms Burton said she was astonished that the Green Party "which has repeatedly called for more openness in regard to the financial and business interests of politicians" was prepared to go along with the plan.

She added: "I am not aware of any demand for these changes from either members of the Oireachtas or the Standards in Public Offices Commission."

(DW)