Annual Report 2002

Donations disclosed by unsuccessful candidates at the Seanad General Election

Donation Statements and Statutory Declarations from unsuccessful candidates at the Seanad general election were due to be furnished to the Standards Commission by 10 September 2002 (panel candidates) and 11 September 2002 (university candidates), i.e. 56 days after polling day. Unsuccessful candidates were required to disclose donations valued in excess of €634.87 received in relation to the election.

A total of 151 candidates contested the Seanad general election. Of these, 49 were elected, leaving a total of 102 unsuccessful candidates from whom Donation Statements and Statutory Declarations were required. The remaining 11 members of the Seanad were nominated by the Taoiseach on 26 July 2002. Donations with a total value of €33,809.13 were disclosed by 12 of the 102 unsuccessful candidates - see Table A above.

The largest single donor was ASTI which gave donations totalling €5,078.02 to two of its members who were candidates at the election. INTO also gave donations totalling €2,539.74 to two of its members while SIPTU gave a donation of €2,000 to one of its members. Fianna Fáil (Carlow Comhairle Ceanntair) made a donation of €1,000 to one of its candidates. Fine Gael (Athlone branch) made a similar donation to one of its candidates.

Files were referred to the Gardaí relating to two unsuccessful candidates who failed to furnish a Donation Statement and Statutory Declaration. The documents were subsequently received from both candidates.

Back to contents