23/12/09 - Report to Ceann Chomhairle Re Dublin Central and Dublin South Bye Elections of 5 June 2009 (pdf and text versions)

4. Disclosure of donations

4.1    Disclosure of donations by unsuccessful candidates

Each unsuccessful candidate at the Dáil bye-elections was required to furnish to the Standards Commission, within 56 days after polling day (i.e., by 31 July 2009), a Donation Statement, and accompanying documentation, indicating whether or not, at any time in relation to the election, the candidate received a donation with a value greater than €634.87.  If no such donation was received, the candidate was required to furnish a "nil" return. Where a donation of such value was received, the value and nature of each donation together with the name, a description and the postal address of the donor were required to be disclosed.

Ten of the fifteen unsuccessful candidates returned their Donation Statements by the statutory deadline, with a further five Donation Statements being returned later. One Donation Statement which had been incorrectly completed was returned to the candidate on 2 July 2009 and this Donation Statement was finally returned on 16 November 2009 to the Standards Commission. Failure to furnish a Donation Statement and Statutory Declaration within 56 days of polling day is an offence under section 25 of the Act. The Standards Commission decided not to refer such matters to the Gardaí as no Donation Statement remained outstanding . 

Four of the fifteen unsuccessful candidates who furnished Donation Statements disclosed that they had received a donation valued in excess of €634.87 in relation to the bye-elections. The total value of the donations disclosed was €16,571.15.  Details are given in Appendix II to this report.

4.2   Disclosure of donations by the two elected candidates

The elected candidates, Deputies George Lee and Maureen O'Sullivan are required, as members of the Dáil, to furnish to the Standards Commission, by 31 January each year, an annual Donation Statement and accompanying documentation.  The Donation Statements which will be furnished by Deputies Lee and O'Sullivan to the Standards Commission by 31 January 2010 will contain details of any donations received by them during 2009 including any donations received in relation to the bye-elections.

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