Guidelines for the general election to the 30th Dáil

I. Furnishing an Election Expenses Statement after the election

3.28   Shortly after the election, the Standards Commission will send national agents an Election Expenses Statement/Statutory Declaration form.  On this form the national agent must disclose to the Standards Commission details of all expenses incurred and payments made by, or on behalf of, the national agent in relation to the election.  Staff of the Standards Commission Secretariat will be available to assist national agents in completing the form.  The completed form must be received by the Standards Commission within 56 days after polling day.

3.29   The Election Expenses Statement form to be sent to each national agent will be tailored to reflect the number of candidates of the party standing at the election.  In each case, however, the following must be included in the form:

1. details of all expenses incurred and payments made by the national agent and his/her authorised persons, including supplies of property, goods or services free or below cost which are used during the election period;
2. details of authorised persons, including the amount each authorised person was permitted to spend and the amount actually spent;
3. confirmation of the portion of each candidate's spending limit which was assigned by the candidates to the national agent's political party;
4. a breakdown of spending by the agent on the national campaign and on each individual candidate;
5. details of any disputed claims for payment;
6. information concerning late claims for payment;
7. details of expenses incurred on goods, property or services used during the election period where the costs were met from public funds.

3.30   A record of minor expenses may also be required to be furnished to the Standards Commission in order to deal with any questions which may arise as to why expenses in respect of particular items used during the election period are not shown as an election expense on the Election Expenses Statement.  Minor expenses will not be included in the calculation of the total election expenses incurred (see paragraph 2.34 (iii) and 2.35 for a definition of "minor expenses").

3.31   Invoices, receipts or vouchers for every payment of election expenses exceeding €126.97 must be included with the Election Expenses Statement.  The Standards Commission also reserves the right to request any invoice, receipt or voucher for an item of expenditure valued at less than €126.97 appearing in an Election Expenses Statement or a record of minor expenses.

3.32   Minor omissions or errors found by the Standards Commission in an Election Expenses Statement may be corrected within 14 days.

3.33   The Election Expenses Statement and Statutory Declaration forms will be laid by the Standards Commission before both Houses of the Oireachtas and will be made available to the public for inspection and copying.  Summary details of the expenditure incurred will also be included in a report to the Chairman of Dáil Éireann and will be published on the website of the Standards Commission.

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