Enda Kenny, Hat In Hand

Why, oh why, should Sinn Fein get all the money?

So goes the reasoning of Enda Kenny and the boys of Fine Gael. Mr. Kenny was visiting some Irish-American supporters in the fall when the brainstorm swirled in many a collective head. Someone, either in Ireland or America, thought that he might as well raise funds when he next comes to town. After all, Gerry Adams has been funding Sinn Fein almost entirely on American money raised every St. Paddy's Day. If Gerry can do it, why not Enda?

Mr. Kenny is due to receive the Mayo Man of the Year Award from the Mayo Society in March, and he has plans to visit both New York and Boston. What better time to pass the hat for Fine Gael, maybe steal a bit of Gerry Adams' thunder while he's at it. Sadly, from a great idea comes a great roadblock. When the idea went around the table, that Fine Gael should follow Sinn Fein's lead in the fundraising game, no one considered the legal issues.

Sinn Fein is registered as a Northern Ireland political entity when it comes a-calling every March, and as such it is regulated by the British government. On the other hand, Fine Gael is a product of the Republic of Ireland, and Irish law forbids Fine Gael from accepting any donation from someone abroad, unless that person is an Irish citizen. Not only that, but corporate donations can only be taken from a company with an office in Ireland that actually does real business. Can't just set up some shell company with an empty office and funnel money to a politician.

Even if those hurdles could be jumped, there are American laws governing fundraising by foreigners, and the sum total of myriad difficulties was simply too much to overcome by March. Plucky Mr. Kenny will not be deterred from his visit, however, even if he cannot raise money for his party and his push to become the next taoiseach.

Surely it rankles, though, knowing that the Shinners have pulled in upwards of five million euro in the past decade, and Fine Gael is out in the cold. Could have pumped a quarter of million at least into Fine Gael's coffers on this trip, but now it's not to be.

Have to settle for the golden glory of being Mayo Man of the Year, but that won't pay for any bumper stickers or election posters.

There's one unforeseen benefit to a united Ireland. At least it would put the Shinners at the same disadvantage as Fine Gael when it comes to raising money in the USA.