26/03/03 - Report on involvement by individuals and groups in the referenda on abortion and the Nice Treaty and the Dáil general election

Details of individuals or groups involved in the referendum on the Nice Treaty

What follows is a brief description of the individuals or groups who or which have registered with the Standards Commission or have otherwise came to the attention of the Standards Commission in relation to the Nice Treaty referendum. In the case of the groups listed in C1 to C16 below, the person identified in the second column is the responsible person for the purposes of the legislation.

	Name of responsible person and address of group	Comments
C1	Mr. Ciarán Toland, Ireland for Europe, 91 Hampton Square, Navan Road, Dublin 7.	Mr. William Fogarty wrote to the Standards Commission on 26 July 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €10,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 7 August 2002.
C2	Professor Brigid Laffan, Irish Alliance for Europe (IAFE), 69 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2.	Mr. Adrian Langan wrote to the Standards Commission on 13 August 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €500,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 20 August 2002.
C3	Mr. Charles Ardagh, European Access Providers Limited, T/a Leap Broadband, 54 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.	Mr. Rory Ardagh wrote to the Standards Commission on 29 August 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations in the region of €5,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 2 September 2002.
C4	Mr. Peter O'Dwyer, IFSC for Yes, 54 Hainault Road, Foxrock, C. Dublin.	Mr. William Fogarty, 22 Shrewsbury Park, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, wrote to the Standards Commission on 9 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €10,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 12 September 2002.
C5	Ms. Una McMahon, No to Nice Campaign, 60A Capel Street, Dublin 2.	Ms. Roisín Caulfield, Solicitor, wrote to the Standards Commission on 9 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that since 1 January 2002 the group had received approximately €30,000 in donations but was unsure of the final amount of donations it would receive. All donations would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 12 September 2002.
C6	Ms. Maria Cronin, Director, Irish Business and Employers Confederation, 84/86 Lower Baggott Street, Dublin 2.	Mr. Turlough O'Sullivan wrote to the Standards Commission on 13 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €400,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on the same day.
C7	Ms. Angela Kerins, Chairperson, Disability Alliance for Europe, Roslyn Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4.	Ms. Kerins wrote to the Standards Commission on 18 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €40,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 23 September 2002.
C8	Ms. Joan Lane, Concerned Christians against Nice, Glynn Cottage, Hazelwood, Mallow, Co. Cork.	Ms. Lane wrote to the Standards Commission on 25 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €2,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 26 September 2002.
C9	Mr. Conor O'Brien, Honorary Treasurer, Equal in Europe, 120 Mount Anville, Dublin 14.	Mr. O'Brien wrote to the Standards Commission on 25 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €10,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. After an exchange of correspondence the group was registered on 3 October 2002.
C10	Mr. Anthony Coughlan, Secretary, The National Platform, 24 Crawford Avenue, Dublin 9.	Mr. Coughlan wrote to the Standards Commission on 27 July 2002 on behalf of the group enquiring about the requirements of the electoral legislation. Following an exchange of correspondence he indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €10,000, to add to finance it already had at the beginning of the year. Estimated expenditure would be in the region of €15,000 The group was registered on 3 October 2002.
C11	Mr. Anthony Coughlan, 24 Crawford Avenue, Dublin 9.	In the course of correspondence relating to the activities of The National Platform, Mr. Coughlan indicated that he had received personal donations of approximately €3,000, and expected to receive more such donations. He wished to be registered as a third party in his own name also. He was registered as a third party on 3 October 2002.
C12	Mr. Dónal Ó Lochlainn, Immigration Control Platform, 60 Kilbarrack Road, Sutton, Dublin 13.	Ms. Áine Ní Chonaill wrote to the Standards Commission on 27 September 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of not more than €5,000 and certainly not more than €10,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. After an exchange of correspondence the group was registered on 10 October 2002.
C13	Mr. Joe Higgins T.D., Alliance Against Nice, 155 Briarwood Close, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.	Mr. Higgins wrote to the Standards Commission on 8 October 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €3,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on 10 October 2002.
C14	Ms. Olive Braiden, Chairperson, Women for a Yes Vote, 235 New Cabra Road, Dublin 7.	Ms. Braiden wrote to the Standards Commission on 14 October 2002 on behalf of the group and indicated that the group estimated it would receive donations of approximately €8,000, all of which would be spent on the campaign. The group was registered on the same day.
C15	Mr. Eugene MacCartan, Democrats against Nice, 47 Shandon Crescent, Dublin 7.	By letter dated 7 October this group, in the names of Frank Keoghan, 25 Shanowen Crescent, and Eugene MacCartan, 46 Shandon Crescent, requested to be registered as a third party. It indicated that it expected to receive donations amounting to €1,500 and the total amount would be spent on the campaign. Further information about the group was provided by letter dated 16 October 2002 and registration as a third party was effected on 23 October 2002.

A number of other groups which were involved in the referendum came to the attention of the Standards Commission and the following is the position in relation to each of them.

	Name of responsible person and address of group	Comments
C16	Mr Roger Cole, Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA), 113 Springhill Ave, Blackrock, Co Dublin.	From a leaflet distributed by the group and from newspaper articles, it seemed that it might be necessary for PANA to register as a third party. A letter issued to PANA on 2 October 2002. A phone call was received from Mr. Roger Cole acknowledging the necessity for PANA to register as a third party but indicating that he would not be in a position to do so until after polling day at the referendum. On 18 November 2002 Mr Cole informed the Standards Commission that estimated donations would be in the region of €4,720 for the year all of which would be spent on the campaign. Registration as a third party was effected on 19 November 2002.
C17	Ms. Patricia Lawler, Chief Executive, European Movement Ireland, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.	Ms. Lawler wrote to the Standards Commission on 16 September 2002 enquiring as to whether the group must register as a third party. She indicated that the European Movement was running an information campaign on the Nice Treaty in the run-up to the referendum. She stated that the European Movement was not calling for a particular response from the electorate other than to urge them to find out the facts and to vote. She sought clarification of the Movement's position regarding any financial support which it might receive to carry out the information campaign. She stated that the Movement was fully aware that, in the likely event of the Movement deciding to run a campaign calling for a particular stance, that the third party rules would apply. The explanatory note on third parties was forwarded to Ms Lawler on 18 September 2002 and it was pointed out to her that, on the basis of the information provided by her on the activities of the Movement, it seemed that such activities might fall within one or more of the parts of the definition of political purposes, and, accordingly, it might be necessary for the Movement to register with the Standards Commission. No reply was received to that letter. A reminder issued on 31 October 2002. While no reply was received, the Standards Commission has no evidence to warrant pursuing the matter further, i.e. there is no indication that the group received a donation for political purposes with a value in excess of €126.97.
C18	Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7.	On the basis of information on its web-site, it seemed that it might be necessary for Afri to register as a third party. By letter dated 23 September 2002 Afri was informed accordingly. Mr Joseph Murray, Co-ordinator, replied on 1 October 2002 and stated that legal advice was being sought on the matter. Following an exchange of correspondence, Afri stated that it had not received any donations that were given for political purposes. Accordingly, the Standards Commission was satisfied that the provisions of the electoral legislation did not apply to Afri. Newspapers (Sunday Tribune of 13 October 2002 and Irish Times of 16 October 2002) carried reports that the Irish Alliance for Europe claimed that Afri may have received donations in excess of the statutory limit of €6,348.69 from the UK. According to the article in the Irish Times, the Alliance had called on the Standards Commission to investigate this. The Standards Commission received no contact from the Alliance. The Standards Commission wrote to the Alliance seeking any information it may have relating to the allegations in the Irish Times article. The Alliance subsequently contacted the Standards Commission and stated that it had no evidence in this regard. Accordingly, the Standards Commission had no grounds to pursue the matter further.
C19	Mr Roger Caplin, PRO, Yes to Nice.com	On the basis of information on its web-site, it seemed that it might be necessary for Yes to Nice.com to register as a third party. By e-mailed letter dated 23 September 2002, Mr. Caplin was informed accordingly. In his reply he stated that the group had not, and would not, receive any donations in excess of €126.97. He was informed that it was not necessary, therefore, for the group to register as a third party.
C20	Libertarians Against Nice, PO Box 178, Cork.	On the basis of a leaflet distributed by the group and information on its web-site, it seemed that it might be necessary for this group to register as a third party. A letter issued to its Secretary on 2 October 2002. No reply was received. A reminder was issued on 1 November 2002. A further letter issued on 14 November 2002 but again no reply was received. Also, on 14 November the Standards Commission wrote to the Mails Revenue Section of An Post, which deals with the PO Box numbers, requesting the name and address of the subscriber to the PO Box number. A reply was received from the Solicitor's Office of An Post on 14 January 2003 stating that Senior Counsel opinion was being sought relating to the request for the identity of the subscribers. Further information is awaited.
C21	Mr. David Beggs, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), 31 - 32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.	Having regard to ICTU's involvement in the referendum campaign, the explanatory note on third parties was sent to ICTU on 8 October 2002 with a request that it consider the matter and revert to the Standards Commission. In his reply, Mr Beggs stated that ICTU did not receive any monies with regard to the referendum campaign and, accordingly, is not covered by the legislation.
C22	Ms. Kathleen Galavan, Secretary/Finance, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2.,	Having regard to the involvement of Dublin Chamber of Commerce in the referendum campaign, the explanatory note on third parties was sent to it on 8 October 2002 with a request that it consider the matter and revert to the Standards Commission. No reply was received. A reminder was issued. A reply was received on 13 November 2002 stating that the Dublin Chamber of Commerce did not receive any donations and, accordingly, it is not covered by the legislation.
C23	Mr Michael Berkery General Secretary, The Irish Farmers Association, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.	Having regard to the involvement of The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) in the referendum campaign, the explanatory note on third parties was sent to it on 8 October 2002 with a request that it consider the matter and revert to the Standards Commission. Following the issue of a reminder, the IFA informed the Standards Commission that it did not receive any donations in respect of its involvement in the referendum campaign. Accordingly, the IFA is not a third party.
C24	Mr. Michael Geary, Chief Executive, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Fitzgerald House, Summerhill North, Cork.	Having regard to the involvement of Cork Chamber of Commerce in the referendum campaign, the explanatory note on third parties was sent to it on 18 October 2002 with a request that it consider the matter and revert to the Standards Commission. By letter dated 22 October 2002, Mr Geary confirmed that no donations were received and, accordingly, Cork Chamber of Commerce is not a third party.

According to information received from the Referendum Commission, a separate statutory body, the only group, other than political parties, to be deemed to be an Approved Body for the purpose of section 7 of the Referendum Act, 1998, was Irish Alliance for Europe which had already registered as a third party.

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