# SIPO

This year

2023

Ethics responsibility restored to Paschal Donohoe after Sipo closes donation complaint

Sipo had looked into a complaint over Donohoe’s failure to to declare a donation of services during the 2016 election campaign.

6.7k

Jul 4th 2023, 2:13 PM

# Planning Permission

Damien English 'disappointed and embarrassed' about planning controversy that led to resignation

‘I put my hand up, I gave the wrong information,’ said the former Fine Gael minister.

10.8k

Jun 14th 2023, 2:23 PM

# ethics watchdog

Sipo decides against investigating former minister Damien English over planning application

The Fine Gael TD resigned his position as Minister of State after revelations about a planning application he submitted in 2008.

9.9k

Jun 11th 2023, 12:19 PM

# SIPO

Sipo clears Paschal Donohoe of complaint over undisclosed donations from businessman

The minister received a donation of services in which six individuals being paid by businessman Michael Stone put up election posters for Donohoe during the 2016 campaign.

7.6k

May 20th 2023, 4:04 PM

# the ditch

The Ditch calls Sipo complaint example of 'illiberal attacks' by the Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil

Senator Malcolm Byrne has written to Sipo regarding the roughly €1 million euro in funding it receives from Paddy Cosgrave’s Web Summit.

13.1k

May 16th 2023, 11:39 AM

# Niall Collins

Paul Murphy makes complaint to Sipo over Niall Collins land sale controversy

Controversy has surrounded Collins over allegations surrounding the sale of land in Patrickswell in 2008, when he was a member of the Dáil.

14.1k

Updated

Apr 28th 2023, 1:43 PM

# party returns

Mary Lou McDonald admits there was 'sloppiness' and 'inaccuracies' in party's financial returns

Questions have been raised in the Dáil recently regarding Sinn Féín’s finances.

13.9k

Mar 15th 2023, 6:15 AM

# Sinn Féin

Govt chief whip seeks Dáil time for McDonald and Doherty to answer questions about SF's financing

In the ‘spirit of transparency and accountability’ SF should make Dáil statements, says Naughton.

16.1k

Mar 1st 2023, 6:53 PM

# council of europe

Irish government needs to tighten up employment of special advisors, European body says

The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body has released a new report calling for reforms in how top-level roles are filled.

11.4k

Feb 16th 2023, 12:03 AM

# Courts

Paul Murphy takes Sipo to High Court over decision not to investigate Varadkar over contract leak

Murphy’s initial application for judicial review was filed yesterday.

10.0k

Feb 9th 2023, 12:28 PM

Voices

Larry Donnelly: How will Irish politicians cope with an increasingly angry electorate?

Our columnist says the Donohoe affair and protests of recent weeks show that the political mood here has darkened.

24.6k

Jan 28th 2023, 8:00 PM

# timeline

Explained: What you need to know about failed election declarations from Paschal Donohoe and SF

Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have consistently sniped one another over their failure to properly declare donations and expenses.

12.3k

Jan 27th 2023, 10:00 PM

# Expenses

Ó Broin insists his party doesn't 'owe Donohoe apology' in wake of SF expenses revelations

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ó Broin said there is a “world of a difference” between Sinn Féin’s situation and Donohoe’s.

19.4k

Jan 27th 2023, 10:19 AM

# SIPO

Sinn Féin to amend 2016 election spending returns after 'oversight' on declaring outstanding bill

A party spokesperson told RTÉ that the party was within the spending limits laid down for the 2016 general election.

19.9k

Jan 25th 2023, 3:56 PM

# michael stone

Businessman Michael Stone confirms he assisted Paschal Donohoe during 2020 election campaign

Stone paid six workers €972 to hang posters in Donohoe’s Dublin Central constituency.

28.6k

Updated

Jan 24th 2023, 3:15 PM

# SIPO

Tánaiste says that Paschal Donohoe should not resign over election donations controversy

Donhoe’s situation was likened to ministers who had resigned in the past, however Martin said that the government remains focused.

18.0k

Jan 22nd 2023, 4:25 PM

# SIPO

Heather Humphreys accuses Sinn Féin of setting up 'kangaroo court' against Paschal Donohoe

The minister said that Sinn Féin wasn’t affording Donohoe due process and seeking to act as ‘judge, jury and executioner’ against him.

25.7k

Jan 21st 2023, 4:49 PM

# donohoe to blame

Explainer: Why is Paschal Donohoe still in hot water over political donation declarations?

The Minister is now due to make a further statement to the Dáil on Tuesday.

26.3k

Updated

Jan 20th 2023, 9:45 PM

# SIPO

Tánaiste questioned over Donohoe controversy: 'I’m going to wait to see what Paschal has to say'

The minister said he would address matters that were put to him yesterday by opposition members.

25.1k

Updated

Jan 19th 2023, 6:00 PM

# Paschal Donohoe

Paschal Donohoe apologises for 'clear mistake' but opposition parties query figures

Minister Paschal Donohoe said he understood work on hanging election posters to have been done on a ‘voluntary basis’.

17.3k

Jan 18th 2023, 7:01 PM

# expense declaration

Sinn Féin failed to declare cost of opinion poll for 2020 election to Sipo until last year

The party amended their declarations in January 2022.

15.8k

Jan 17th 2023, 2:40 PM

# ethics

'He's fully corrected the record': Coveney defends Donohoe over undeclared donation

Coveney said he believes that Donohoe has given a “very detailed explanation as to what happened”.

5.6k

Jan 17th 2023, 1:31 PM

# Paschal Donohoe

Businessman who paid for Paschal Donohoe postering work is Land Development Agency board member

Michael Stone was appointed to the position by then Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

36.2k

Jan 16th 2023, 7:49 PM

# sipo's teeth

Long overdue ethics laws to keep politicians in check can't be delayed, say opposition

Minister Michael McGrath says very many of Sipo’s asks will be included in legislation reforms.

8.6k

Jan 16th 2023, 5:27 PM

# SIPO

Explainer: Why is Paschal Donohoe in hot water over his expense declarations?

Sinn Féin have said that the Public Expenditure Minister’s explanation was “simply not credible”.

16.9k

Jan 16th 2023, 12:28 PM

# Your Say

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

Have your say!

12.8k

Jan 16th 2023, 8:48 AM

# Sipo complaint

Donohoe apologises for failing to declare election donation in 2016 following Sipo complaint

A complaint has been made over the use of an engineering firm to erect and remove election posters.

31.2k

Updated

Jan 15th 2023, 5:49 PM

# Paschal Donohoe

Donohoe to review his records from 2016 election after complaint to SIPO

A complaint alleges that services for Donohoe’s campaign should have been declared as a corporate donation.

36.8k

Updated

Jan 14th 2023, 7:59 PM

# Damien English

Property questions take out another minister but this resignation is different to the Troy saga

English’s resignation is solely due to a 2008 planning application.

Fine Gael TD Damien English resigned his position as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment today.

The Meath West TD resigned solely due to a 2008 planning application in which he failed to declare he owned a house.

Public scrutiny of politicians’ ownership of housing has ramped up in recent months following the controversy surrounding TD Robert Troy and his properties.

13.9k

Jan 12th 2023, 3:01 PM

Last year

2022

# gp contract

'That's where it stands': Taoiseach says Sipo has made final decision not to investigate Varadkar

The Irish Times reports today that there were dissenting opinions within the ethics watchdog over whether to press ahead with an inquiry.

11.1k

Dec 9th 2022, 2:24 PM

# Investigation

Leo Varadkar says Sipo has decided not to investigate him over GP contract leak

The DPP confirmed it would not be prosecuting the Tánaiste over the controversy in July.

11.6k

Nov 9th 2022, 5:42 PM

# Political Donations

Sinn Féin receive highest amount in disclosed political donations last year

Donations made by TDs, Senators, MEPs across six political parties amounted to €193,511.

21.2k

Nov 3rd 2022, 12:50 PM

# SIPO

Thirteen political parties in breach of legal requirements to submit accounts

A new report from Ireland’s ethics watchdog was published today.

13.1k

Oct 11th 2022, 1:23 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

SIPO refuses to name ex-government officials who asked to waive 'cooling off' period for lobbying

A report by

Stephen McDermott

13 people have asked for the exemption in two years.

13 former special advisers have asked for the exemption in two years.

Lobbying regulator SIPO has refused a Freedom of Information request to reveal identities of those who applied, Stephen McDermott writes.

26.6k

Sep 8th 2022, 12:05 AM

# gone

A fortnight of apologies and clarifications that led to Robert Troy's resignation

Things move quickly in politics – even during the summer break.

16.8k

Aug 27th 2022, 7:30 AM

# SIPO

Political parties and independents received €13.4 million in State funding last year

The funding is non-electoral and is an administrative allowance.

10.0k

Aug 25th 2022, 12:56 PM

# disclosure

Omissions and errors: How Robert Troy's property dealings stoked a major political controversy

Opposition TDs have been calling for the resignation of the Fianna Fáil junior minister.

22.0k

Aug 24th 2022, 5:05 PM

# Donations

Four TDs and senators were given €3,000 in political donations last year

Public reps must disclose any donations valued at (or totalling) €600 or more from an individual source.

20.5k

Aug 22nd 2022, 12:37 PM

# I declare

Will we see more political controversies before Sipo gets some teeth?

Tánaiste says there are ‘stringent’ regulations already, but signals changes may be on the way.

15.8k

Aug 21st 2022, 6:30 AM

# SIPO

FF junior minister Robert Troy amends his register of interests after undeclared property sale

In declarations for 2018 and 2020 respectively, he has added the sale of two properties.

21.9k

Updated

Aug 18th 2022, 5:00 PM