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Political donations: Calls for transparency in NI
May 26, 2020
There are calls for more transparency around political donations after the main NI parties denied any link to an Electoral Commission investigation.
The commission investigated two separate donations, but is legally prevented from disclosing the details.
Legislation only allows information on donations made after July 2017 to be published.
The commission says it was unable to decide if the rules were broken in both cases.
However, it has expressed "regret" at not being able to publish the details.
After being contacted by the BBC, the Alliance Party admitted it was the subject of one of the investigations.
It confirmed that assembly member Andrew Muir failed to declare a trip and hospitality paid for by the US government during his time as a councillor in Ards and North Down.
'Openness and transparency'
The party said Mr Muir had "declared his participation" in the US trip to the council but was "unaware he also needed to declare it with the Electoral Commission".
"He rectified that as soon as it was made clear and apologised for his lateness," the party said.
"The commission made no determination of an offence in this case.
"Openness and transparency is of the utmost importance to Alliance, illustrated by the party leading on declaring political donations."
Image caption Andrew Muir failed to declare a trip and hospitality paid for by the US government during his time as a councillor in Ards and North Down
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