Press Releases

Press Release regarding disclosure of donations and election expenditure at the Dáil general election of 24 May 2007

Date Released: 13.12.2007

Contact David Waddell - 01 - 6395707 or Aidan Moore - 01 - 6395712

Dáil General Election 2007 - election expenditure details

Figures released today by the Standards Commission in a report to the Ceann Comhairle show that election expenses of €11.08m were incurred on behalf of candidates and political parties at the 2007 general election, an increase of almost 20% on the figure reported for the 2002 election.

The highest expenditure was reported on behalf of Fianna Fáil and its candidates at €3,650,240.55. This was followed by:

• Fine Gael €2,809,474.25
• The Labour Party €1,477,321.48
• Progressive Democrats €1,012,707.52
• Non-Party €795,862.25
• Sinn Féin €685,095.66
• The Green Party €553,858.70
• Socialist Party €56,125.49
• The Workers Party €30,200.14
• Christian Solidarity Party €11,427.06

These figures represent reported expenditure on property, goods or services used for election purposes during the election period. The election period began with the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 April and ended on polling day on 24 May 2007. Expenditure on property, goods or services not used during this period was not required to be accounted for.

No candidate is reported to have exceeded the statutory expenditure limits. The limits for the 2007 general election were €30,150 (3 seater), €37,650 (4 seater) and €45,200 (5 seater).

300 qualified candidates qualified for reimbursement of election expenses and the total due to be paid to these is €2,638,013.47.

Dáil General Election 2007 - donations disclosed by unsuccessful candidates

Donations with a total value of €531,379.82 were disclosed by 103 unsuccessful candidates. 196 unsuccessful candidates returned a "nil" statement. Candidates elected are required to furnish a Donation Statement to the Standards Commission before 31 January 2008 disclosing donations valued at more than €634.87 received in 2007.

The unsuccessful candidates disclosing the highest donations were:

1. O'Callaghan, Jim (FF) Dublin South East €38,250.00
2. Fitzgerald, Pat (FF) Wicklow €32,820.00 (of which €2,461 was returned to donor)
3. Kelly, Nicky (Lab) Wicklow €24,217.96
4. Ryan, Jim (NP) Tipperary North €22,672.30
5. Bailey, John (FG) Dún Laoghaire €18,500.00
6. Brady, Martin (FF) Dublin North East €16,450.00
7. Regan, Eugene (FG) Dún Laoghaire €15,135.00
8. White, Alex (Lab) Dublin South €14,000.00
9. Healy-Eames, Fidelma (FG) Galway West €13,270.00
10. Doran, Pat (NP) Wicklow €11,250.00

The Standards Commission has referred 13 files to the Gardaí in relation to contraventions of the Act at the election. Nine of these related to a failure to furnish a Donation Statement, three to a failure to furnish an Election Expenses Statement and one in relation to a failure by a candidate to provide relevant documentation to her election agent. Further files may be referred by the Standards Commission to the Gardaí.

The Standards Commission makes a number of recommendations in its report as to how the electoral legislation might be improved. In particular it recommends a review of the duration of the election period to avoid the "frontloading" of election expenditure. It suggests that the proposed establishment of an Electoral Commission, as set out in the current programme for government, affords an ideal opportunity for a complete review of the legislation and trusts that this review will take account of the recommendations contained in the Standards Commission's report on the general election and in previous reports, particularly its report of 26 June 2007 "Disclosure of Donations by Political Parties for 2006" in which it stated that there was a strong case to be made for a new approach to the general funding of political parties, for increased transparency in such funding and for greater scrutiny of political party expenditure.

Details of the donations disclosed by unsuccessful candidates and the election expenses incurred on behalf of candidates, political parties and "other persons" are contained in the following Appendices to the Standards Commission's report:

• Appendix 1 - Disclosure of Donations by unsuccessful candidates (alphabetically) (pdf 279kb)
• Appendix 2 - Summary of expenditure on individual candidates (alphabetically) (pdf 270kb)
• Appendix 3 - Summary of expenditure by political parties (pdf 28kb)
• Appendix 4 - Summary of total expenditure by candidates and political parties (pdf 31kb)
• Appendix 5 - Details of candidates who qualified for a reimbursement of election expenses (pdf 99kb)
• Appendix 6 - Expenditure by "other persons" (pdf 9kb)

Here is a link to the full text of the Standards Commission's report.

Issued by the Standards in Public Office Commission on 13 December 2007

Telephone: 01-6395666
Fax: 01-6395684
email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie

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