Combined Section 15/16 Manual of the Standards Commission

Guide to Functions, Records, Procedures and Practices of the Standards in Public Offices Commission

Published in accordance with section 15 and 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 by the

Standards in Public Office Commission,
18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 6395666 Fax: (01) 6395684
email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie

Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie

Part 1 - Introduction

1.1 Introduction - Freedom of Information Acts

1.2 Structure and Organisation of the Standards Commission

1.3 Overview of the legislation supervised by the Standards Commission

1.4 How to make an FOI request to the Standards Commission

Part 2 - The Ethics Acts

2.1 Requirements of the Ethics Acts

2.2 Functions of the Standards Commission under the Ethics Acts and administrative actions taken by it in the performance of those functions

2.3 Records held by the Standards Commission under the Ethics Acts

2.4 Glossary of terms relevant to Part 2 of the manual

Part 3 - The Electoral Acts

3.1 Requirements of the Electoral Acts

3.2 Functions of the Standards Commission under the Electoral Acts and administrative actions taken by it in the performance of those functions - Sections A - H

3.2 Functions of the Standards Commission under the Electoral Acts and administrative actions taken by it in the performance of those functions - Sections I - M

3.3 Records held by the Standards Commission under the Electoral Acts

3.4 Glossary of terms relevant to Part 3 of the Manual

Part 4 - Party Leaders Allowance Act

4.1 Requirements of the Party Leaders Allowance Act

4.2 Functions of the Standards Commission under the Party Leaders Allowance Act and administrative actions taken by it in the performance of those functions

4.3 Records held by the Standards Commission under the Party Leaders Allowance

Part 5 - General records held by the Standards Commission

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Request for access to records under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 Form

Appendix 2 - Sample statement of nil interests

Appendix 3 - Sample Statutory Declaration for tax clearance purposes

Appendix 4 - Statement of Intended Procedures

Appendix 5 - Fund-raising events

Appendix 6 - Sample Donation Statement

Appendix 7 - Sample Certificate of Monetary Donations

Appendix 8 - Statement of Practice in relation to the processing of Donation Statements and Election Expenses Statements at Dáil and European elections

Appendix 9 - What are election expenses

Appendix 10 - Sample Election Expenses Statement

Appendix 11 - Sample Reimbursement Application Form

Appendix 12 - Sample Statement of Expenditure of Exchequer Funding

Appendix 13 - Sample Statement of Expenditure of Party Leaders Allowance