Guidelines for the general election to the 30th Dáil

Appendix 1 - Definitions

 

Section 22 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended, provides the following definitions.

'account' means an account in an institution in the State for the purpose of crediting and debiting money received in respect of donations.

'institution' means

(a)   the holder of a licence under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971,

(b)   a building society incorporated or deemed to be incorporated under the Building Societies Act, 1989, or a body incorporated in a corresponding manner under the law of any other Member State of the European Communities.

(c)   a trustee savings bank within the meaning of the Trustees Savings Bank Act, 1989,

(d)   ACC Bank plc,

(e)   An Post, or

(f)   a person authorised in accordance with the European Communities (Licensing and Supervision of Credit Institutions) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 395 of 1992) to carry on business in the State.

(Note:  the above definition does not include a credit union.)

'third party' means any person, other than a registered political party or a candidate at an election, who accepts, in a particular year, a donation for political purposes, the value of which exceeds €126.97.

'responsible person'  in relation to a third party, means the person or persons responsible for the organisation, management or financial affairs of the third party.

'political purposes' means any of the following purposes namely:

(i)   (I) to promote or oppose directly or indirectly, the interests of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas or a representative in the European Parliament, or

(II) to present, directly or indirectly the policies or a particular policy of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, a representative in the European Parliament or a third party, or

(III) to present, directly or indirectly, the comments of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, a representative in the European Parliament or a third party with regard to the policy or policies of another political party, political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, representative in the European Parliament, third party or candidate at an election or referendum or otherwise, or

(IV) to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the interests of a third party in connection with the conduct or management of any campaign conducted with a view to promoting or procuring a particular outcome in relation to a policy or policies or functions of the Government or any public authority;

(ii)   to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European Parliament election or to solicit votes for or against a candidate or to present the policies or a particular policy of a candidate or the views of a candidate on any matter connected with the election or the comments of a candidate with regard to the policy or policies of a political party or a political group or of another candidate at the election or otherwise;

(iii)   otherwise to influence the outcome of the election or a referendum or campaign referred to in paragraph (i)(IV) of this definition.

'political group' means a group formed in accordance with the rules of procedure of the European Parliament.

'election expenses' - section 31 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended, provides that election expenses shall be those, and only those, listed hereunder:

(a)     Advertising (whatever the medium used).
Expenses in respect of such advertising include agency fees, design costs and other costs incurred in connection with the preparing, producing, distributing or otherwise disseminating such advertising.

(b)     Publicity.
Expenses in respect of that matter include expenses incurred in respect of party political broadcasts, the provision of any services or facilities in connection with press conferences or other dealings with the media, media advice and training and photography.

(c)     Election posters.
Expenses in respect of such material include the costs of the design, production, printing, erection and removal of election posters.

(d)     Other election material.
Expenses in respect of such material include the design, production, printing and dissemination of such material (other than posters), including canvass cards, election leaflets, election manifestos, newsletters and other promotional election material.

(e)     Office and Stationery.
Expenses in respect of those matters include costs incurred in the rental or use of an office premises or meeting rooms for election purposes (other than for the purposes of annual or other party conferences) and the costs of heating, electricity, insurance, purchase or rental of office equipment, telephones, stationery and postage.

(f)     Transport and travel.
Expenses in respect of those matters include expenses incurred on transport and travel (by any means), petrol and diesel, rental or use of campaign vehicles, rental or use of vehicles for transport of voters on polling day, accommodation costs, taxi and hackney services and courier services.

(g)     Market research.
Expenses in respect of that matter include expenses incurred in the taking of an opinion poll or other similar survey relating to an election within the period of 60 days before polling day at the election by or on behalf of a political party, a political group or a candidate at the election.

(h)     Campaign workers.
Expenses in respect of that matter include payments to campaign workers, insurance and other costs.

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