Candidates at elections

The Electoral Act 1997, as amended, (the Act) requires each candidate at a Dáil, European Parliament or presidential election to appoint an election agent to authorise and control spending connected with the candidate's election campaign. A candidate who does not appoint an election agent is deemed to be acting as his / her own election agent and is responsible for discharging the legal duties attaching to an election agent under the Act. (Separate page setting out the duties of an election agent is available in the Your Page / Election Agents section of this website).

Candidates at Dáil, Seanad, European Parliament and presidential elections must comply with the requirements of the Act in relation to acceptance of donations.

It is important that candidates keep a record of donations received in relation to an election as they will be required to furnish a Donation Statement and Statutory Declaration to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Standards Commission) after the election. All donations with a value greater than €634.87 must be disclosed. Acceptance of certain donations is prohibited.

If a candidate is unsuccessful at a Dáil, Seanad or European Parliament election, he / she must furnish a Donation Statement to the Standards Commission within 56 days of polling day. A candidate who is elected is required, as a TD, Senator or MEP to furnish an annual Donation Statement to the Standards Commission by 31 January each year.

A candidate who receives, in any particular year, a monetary donation exceeding €126.97 must open and maintain a political donations account in a financial institution in the State. That first donation, together with any further monetary donations, of any value, must be lodged to the account. The candidate's Donation Statement must be accompanied by a Certificate of Monetary Donations and Statutory Declaration and a statement from the financial institution specifying the transactions that have taken place on the account.

At a presidential election, the candidate's election agent is responsible for furnishing to the Standards Commission a Donation Statement and, if appropriate, a Certificate of Monetary Donations and a statement from a financial institution. This must be done within 56 days of polling day, irrespective of whether or not the candidate was elected.

The following publications will provide further information to candidates concerning their obligations under the Act:

• Guidelines for the general election to the 30th Dáil
• Guidelines for the presidential election of 22 October 2004 (pdf 133kb)
• Guidelines for the European Parliament election of 11 June 2004 (pdf 282kb)