Report re spending at Dáil General Election of 2002 (Text)

Chapter 8 Preparatory work for the general election

Activity by the Standards Commission in relation to the Dáil general election commenced in late 2000 and increased in 2001 when a programme of regional visits was arranged in conjunction with the political parties. The main focus of the visits was to brief candidates, their election agents and other party activists on the requirements of the legislation. Briefings were held in Dublin and in a number of venues throughout the country. The programme continued and expanded in the first quarter of 2002.

Work also commenced during 2001 on designing and testing an electronic recording system which would assist the Standards Commission in collating and presenting the information contained in the Donation Statements and Election Expenses Statements which would be furnished to it after the general election.

The Standards Commission intended to publish its detailed guidelines for the general election in 2001. However, it was necessary to delay publication in order that account could be taken of the amendments contained in the 2001 Act. Draft guidelines, which included reference to the amendments, were finalised in December 2001. It was agreed that discussions on the draft guidelines would be held with political parties to ensure that all relevant matters were covered. The discussions were extremely useful and gave rise to a number of improvements and additions being made to the draft document which were reflected in the final guidelines as published in March 2002.

Circulation of the guidelines began immediately to all candidates and election agents whose details had been provided to the Standards Commission by their political parties. Circulation to other candidates and their election agents continued as and when they became known to the Standards Commission through either direct contact or from details provided by the returning officers for the various constituencies (see Chapter 9 below). The published guidelines were also sent to the national agent of each political party and to persons who notified the Standards Commission of their intention to incur election expenses in accordance with section 31(7) of the Electoral Acts (see Chapter 11 below). The Standards Commission is satisfied that all persons who were required to received the guidelines for the Dáil general election were issued with a copy of the guidelines.

To supplement its published guidelines, the Standards Commission produced a booklet of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers relating to election matters. The commencement of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2002 required the Standards Commission to issue an addendum to the guidelines to take account of the amendments contained in that legislation. All of the above material was published on the website of the Standards Commission (www.sipo.ie).

In addition to the published material and briefing meetings held throughout the country, the Standards Commission responded in writing and by telephone to numerous requests for advice received from candidates and agents, both before and during the election. Where advice given was of general application, it was published on the website and / or circulated directly to other candidates and agents. Specific advice relating to the general election which was published by the Standards Commission included:

• advice relating to newspaper advertising
• advice relating to the use of offices
• advice relating to disabled or incapacitated candidates
• advice on calculating the costs of property, services or facilities which were met out of public funds
• advice on accounting for the costs of facilities which were available to Ministers and Ministers of State and used for election purposes.

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