Guidelines for the general election to the 30th Dáil

March 2007

Published by the Standards in Public Office Commission under Section 4(6)(a) of the Electoral Act 1997 as amended.

Standards in Public Office Commission
Tel: (01) 639 5666
Fax: (01) 639 5684
email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/

Contact names and numbers in the Standards in Public Office Commission Secretariat for urgent enquiries outside office hours

Aidan Moore - (087) 9175186
Paddy Walsh - (087) 9794748
David Waddell - (087) 2329814

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Candidates

Candidates - Introduction

A. Appointment of an election agent

B. Assignment of a portion of a candidate's statutory spending limit to his/her political party (if contesting the election as a party candidate)

C. Keeping a record of donations received in relation to the election

D. Opening and maintaining a political donations account when required to do so

E. Prohibited donations

F. Persons who may be incurring expenditure, without proper authorisation, to promote or oppose a candidate at the general election

G. Furnishing the required statutory documentation after the election

H. Claiming a reimbursement of election expenses where eligible to do so

I. Offences and penalties applicable to candidates at the general election

Chapter 2 - Election Agents

Election Agents - Introduction

A. Appointment as an election agent

B. Main functions of an election agent

C. Spending limits for the general election

D. Assignment by a candidate of a portion of his/her statutory spending limit to his/her political party (if contesting the election as a party candidate)

E. "The Election Period" - Dates between which the spending limit applies

F. Persons who may be incurring election expenses on behalf of a candidate without being authorised to do so

G. What are election expenses?

H. What are not election expenses?

I. Payment of invoices to suppliers

J. Furnishing an Election Expenses Statement after the election

K. Consequences of overspending by an election agent

L. Offences and penalties applicable to election agents at the general election

Chapter 3 - National Agents

National Agents - Introduction

A. Appointment of a national agent

B. Assignments by candidates to a political party

C. Spending by the national agent

D. Persons who may be incurring expenditure on behalf of a political party without being authorised to do so

E. "The Election Period" - Dates between which the spending limit applies

F. What are election expenses?

G. What are not election expenses?

H. Payment of invoices to suppliers

I. Furnishing an Election Expenses Statement after the election

J. Consequences of overspending by the national agent

K. Offences and penalties applicable to a national agent at the general election

Chapter 4 - Third Parties, Other Persons and Publishers

Third Parties, Other Persons and Publishers - Introduction

A. What is a "Third Party" and "Other Persons"?

B. Requirements of a Third Party with regard to receipt of donations.

C. Requirements of a Third Party and Other Persons with regard to incurring election expenses

D. What are election expenses?

E. Payment of invoices to suppliers

F. Election Expenses Statements

G. Requirements for publishers under section 31(10) of the Electoral Act 1997

H. Offences and Penalties applicable to third parties with regard to the receipt of donations

I. Offences and Penalties applicable to third parties and other persons with regard to incurring election expenses

J. Offences and Penalties applicable to publishers with regard to publishing unauthorised advertisements or notices

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Definitions

Appendix 2 - Fund-raising events

Appendix 3 - Items accounted for as election expenses at the 2002 Dáil General Election

Appendix 4 - Items which are not election expenses and which were included in Election Expenses Statements at the 2002 Dáil General Election

Appendix 5 - Accounting for the use of offices during the election period

  Appendix 6 - Sample Election Expenses Statement Form (pdf, 73 kb)