15/07/05 - Report re Kildare North and Meath by-elections of 11 March 2005

The Electoral Act, 1997, as amended Kildare North and Meath Dáil By-Elections of 11 March 2005

Donation Statements and Statutory Declarations received from unsuccessful candidates.

Election Expenses Statements and Statutory Declarations received from the election agents of candidates, the national agents of political parties and "other persons".

Applications for reimbursement of election expenses.

Report by the Standards in Public Offices Commission to the Chairman of Dáil Éireann (Ceann Comhairle) in accordance with section 4(1) of the Electoral Act, 1997.

Standards in Public Office Commission,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.

Telephone: (01) 6395666
Fax: (01) 6395684
email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie
15 July 2005

Table of Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Appointment of Election Agents and National Agents

Chapter 3 Guidelines and advice

4.1. Definition of a donation to a candidate at a Dáil by-election

4.2. Disclosure of donations by unsuccessful candidates

4.3 Disclosure of donations by the two elected candidates

Chapter 5 Prohibited donations

Chapter 6 Political Donations Accounts

7.1 Spending limits for the Dáil by-elections

7.2 Definition of election expenses

7.3 Matters which are not regarded as election expenses

7.4 Implications of the Kelly case in relation to election expenses where the costs were met out of public funds.

Chapter 8 Election Expenses Statements Received

8.1 Issue and receipt of Election Expenses Statement forms

8.2 Consideration of Election Agents' and National Agents' Election Expenses Statements

8.3 Overspending

8.4 Late claims

8.5 Disputed claims

8.6 Use of property, goods or services where the costs were met out of public funds

Chapter 9 Reimbursement of election expenses

Chapter 10 Third Parties and "Other Persons" involvement at the by-elections

Chapter 11 Correspondence with newspapers, etc., regarding section 31(10) of the Act

Chapter 12 Publishing of Donation Statements and Election Expenses Statements furnished to the Standards Commission

Chapter 13 Acknowledgement

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Details of candidates, election agents and national agents

Appendix 2 - Donations disclosed by unsuccessful candidates

Appendix 3 - Expenditure on individual candidates at the Dáil by-elections

Appendix 4 - Breakdown by category of expenditure accounted for by election agents and national agents

Appendix 5 - Details of election expenses incurred by "other persons" pursuant to section 31(7) of the Act

Appendix 6 - Details of candidates who qualified for a reimbursement of their election expenses