Fox Clarifies Details of `Political Donation'

A figure of E17,645 listed by the Standards in Public Office Commission as a `donation' to Deputy Mildred Fox has today been clarified to Wicklowtoday.com by the Independent member of the Dail.

Mildred Fox T.D.

The figure was the total sum raised in a race night by her strong Independent party. `People who have seen the figure published in today's newspapers may feel that it was a direct or a number of direct donations', she said.

`The money was not raised by way of direct donations but by the Independent group of supporters who are well known for their ability to organise successful events', she added.

According to the Public Office Commission, the total political donations last year to TD's, Senators and M.E.P.'s came to €85,289 but monetary value was also placed on property, goods and services.

Candidates in the forthcoming general election are presently gearing up to get the best value for money in promotion of themselves to stay within the rules of the total that can be spent during the campaign. At present this amount is around €30,000 per candidate in five-seater constituencies such as Wicklow.