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Leinster House Shutterstock/Damien Storan

Poll: Should Sipo receive additional powers to deal with politicians who break rules?

Have your say!

OVER THE WEEKEND, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe was engulfed in controversy after it emerged that he had failed to declare a donation of services to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) following the 2016 General Election.

He has since apologised for not submitting the declaration and has updated his returns to Sipo.

The controversy has led to renewed questions over whether or not Sipo requires additional powers to investigate public office holders and issue sanctions to those who breach rules.

The body has long called for additional powers and resources.

So today, we want to know: Should Sipo receive additional powers to deal with politicians who break rules?


Poll Results:

Yes (4922)
No (499)
I don't know (200)

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35 Comments
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:07 AM

    Enough of this “Sorry” business. Anyone caught out or who deliberately without info on their disclosure should step down and definetly not be allowed stand again.

    653
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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:11 AM

    @Dave Barrett: Saw Paschal’s apology on the news last night. Nothing says sincerity like reading it off a sheet (and flubbing it).

    339
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    Mute Fay Moynihan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:41 AM

    SIPO is already compromised after the Leo Varadkar leaking fiasco. These investigations should be carried out by entirely independent groups. Not those who have been appointed by or are affiliated with political parties.

    525
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    Mute Hi Hello
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:01 AM

    @Fay Moynihan: 100% with this.

    169
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    Mute Ruth Mannion
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:57 AM

    @Fay Moynihan: my thoughts exactly

    91
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    Mute Chris OB
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:13 AM

    And Pascal needs to resign

    470
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:17 AM

    @Chris OB: Well said

    232
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:02 AM

    @Dave Barrett: Whatever about Pascal, TD’s in general should not have second incomes or jobs in industries that the TD can influence with regard to legislation or the awarding of government contracts.

    395
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:58 AM

    @Frank Cauldhame: Totally agree. Had a councillors wife call here one time for the local election. Didn’t see why, an auctioneer should run for election as he would be privy to info on land rezoning ext,. Didn’t take it well.

    124
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    Mute Allora
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:52 AM

    No SIPO is not the answer. Legislation is needed which would remove politicians from office or have them banned from elections over a period of time. SIPO isn’t good enough. Its part of the establishment.

    295
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    Mute lunadoran
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:04 AM

    Why isn’t there any articles on DAMIEN ENGLISH defaulting on 2 mortgages? Is he still living in them? Is he renting them? Is he paying anything on them? How come they weren’t sold?

    272
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    Mute Hi Hello
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:12 AM

    @lunadoran: Sorry for going off topic, but did Damien English just resign as a minister and stay as a politician, or is he retired properly ??

    48
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 12:05 PM

    @Hi Hello: He is still a TD on a massive salary for doing absolutely nothing.

    131
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    Mute Hi Hello
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    Jan 16th 2023, 4:27 PM

    @David Corrigan:
    Same thing he was never found out as far as he’s concerned. Tax man still supporting him.

    14
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    Mute Daniel Pat Lacey
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:37 AM

    A legal social contract of financial responsibility should be drawn up for all politians and political parties. This would do away with all deviation and anomaly. Now legally responsible for what they say and do would change democracy for the betterment of all !

    200
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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:12 AM

    @Daniel Pat Lacey: Which is exactly why it will never be allowed to happen.

    125
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    Mute Daniel Pat Lacey
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    Jan 16th 2023, 2:46 PM

    @Lily Martin: Neoliberalism is legally written to protect the establishment and their financial affiliates and is now backed by todays political system. Political parties are now becoming organisations of hatreds fragmenting our democratic unity of purpose. They should be disbanded and replaced by young educated qualified and experienced specialists. Collective Intelligence is a far better system of governance to the current malaise and the technology is there for all. Legal contract accountability for all financial transactions should be sacrosanct.

    25
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    Mute Peter
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:21 AM

    Is the real problem what was done for the donation and it wasn’t declared because it would become obvious?

    165
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    Mute Hotirish
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:37 AM

    Well if Sinn Fein had to itemise every time they got a few lads to do a bit of work for them it would make interesting reading!

    73
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 16th 2023, 9:58 AM

    @Hotirish: but but….
    Sinn Fein

    212
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:28 AM

    @Hotirish: Nice deflection, If SF are in the headlines the mainstream media will go into overdrive to report it. It is right that the abuse of power by politicians is reported which ever party they represent. However it took a website to report on Pascal O’Donoghue, not the so called journalists of the mainstream media. Wonder why other information published on the website was not reported by the media. Suppose it is akin to the Attorney General getting Varadkar off the hook concerning Zappone gate, which not all investigation bodies agreed with. Between FFG and the Church it is now a race to see who apologised the most.

    199
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:51 AM

    @Hotirish: Beautiful deflection. Do you practice it often?

    86
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    Mute Hi Hello
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:06 AM

    @Hotirish:
    Would people ever grow up and stop acting like children. Do you actually think that Sinn Fein won’t look after themselves. Corruption is what most TD’s are about. Not getting caught is secret.

    45
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    Mute Patrick O Connell
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:55 AM

    @Donal Desmond: it took ex TD Shane Ross to highlight how Mary Sue financed her house and a criminal to highlight her connections to organized crime. The mainstream media don’t touch SF for fear of being sued. Isnt Mary Lou suing RTE at the moment. We need independent media outlets like the Ditch and Village to report the likes of Leo , Pascal etc.

    24
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:57 AM

    @Patrick O Connell: We need independent media outlets to investigate and report all suspicious activities by all politicians. It doesn’t matter which party they represent. If they are up to no good then the people need to know.

    73
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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jan 16th 2023, 12:27 PM

    @Hotirish: I was wondering if the canvassers who call to my door seeking my support for their chosen candidate should be considered as contributing at least the minimum wage to the candidate and should the hours they “work” looking for votes be considered donations. I am unsure if people realise that no money seems to have changed hands but rather someone put up and took down some election posters

    9
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    Mute Allora
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    Jan 16th 2023, 12:29 PM

    @Hotirish: i dislike SF & likely wont vote for them but your comment reveals the problem. SF are not the problem. Focus on the problems and we can fix the political issues in this country. You have just excused the behaviour of corrupt politicians in the country with that comment.

    42
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 1:30 PM

    @Niall Ó Cofaigh: There’s nothing for nothing Niall. No company would do that for free.

    20
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    Mute Hotirish
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    Jan 16th 2023, 2:30 PM

    @Allora: some perspective is needed here, borrowing a van & getting a few lads to put up a few posters is not corruption in my book whether it got listed or not.

    9
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    Mute Allora
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    Jan 16th 2023, 10:06 PM

    @Hotirish: you simplified for yourself without looking at potential for corruption. If you cant see the problem then you cant see the problem. Some of us have a deeper understanding of the wrongs of this situation. You may feel its over reacting but we have a long history of this in this country and its usually down to those who are involved now.

    4
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    Mute Ruth Mannion
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    Jan 16th 2023, 11:56 AM

    additional powers to do what? give ‘em a wag of the finger?.. let them off the hook? Who is the sipo answerable to? is it independent?

    65
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    Mute Pat Reddan
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    Jan 16th 2023, 4:27 PM

    This is the same Paschal who claimed mileage expenses going to the Dail on his Bike

    34
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    Mute Mick Murp
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    Jan 16th 2023, 4:11 PM

    Shame on us, we accept this corruption,

    34
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    Mute Paul Brierley
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    Jan 16th 2023, 5:58 PM

    @Mick Murp: I think that may have been cabbage head!

    4
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    Mute Richie Donegan
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    Jan 17th 2023, 2:41 PM

    If sipo did their job properly would we have any politicians left

    2
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