Annual Report 2008

Issues arising from the Dáil general election of 2007

In its annual report for 2007, the Standards Commission referred to a number of participants at the election whose statutory documentation had not been finalised. The position in relation to these people is as follows:

• in relation to Mr Michael Canney who had incurred election expenses pursuant to section 31(7) of the 1997 Act on behalf of the Campaign to Save Tara, the Standards Commission had reported that an Election Expenses Statement had still not been received from Mr Canney. The matter had been referred to the Gardaí for an investigation of an offence under section 43(3)(b) of the 1997 Act. At the time of printing the 2007 Annual Report, the Garda investigation of this offence had not yet been completed. Mr Canney's Election Expenses Statement was received on 18 June 2008 and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 24 June 2008. The Standards Commission was informed by the Gardaí that it would not be recommending a prosecution of this matter to the DPP.
• the Standards Commission had reported that receipts/invoices were still required in relation to the Election Expenses Statements of Mr Barry Kennedy (election agent for Senator Paudie Coffey) and Mr Niall Kelleher (election agent for Mr Tom Fleming). The election agents and candidates had been informed that a reimbursement of the candidates' election expenses would not be processed until these invoices/receipts were received. All outstanding invoices/receipts were subsequently received. The reimbursement application for Senator Coffey was certified for payment by the Standards Commission on 25 August 2008 while the reimbursement application for Cllr Fleming was certified on 30 March 2009.

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