Press release
STANDARDS COMMISSION PUBLISHES GUIDELINES FOR THE 34TH DÁIL GENERAL ELECTION
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
11 November 2024 – The Standards in Public Office Commission (“the Commission”) has today published Guidelines for the 34th Dáil General Election.
The Guidelines apply to candidates, election agents, national agents and other persons participating in the 34th Dáil General Election.
The Guidelines cover areas such as political donations, online fund-raising, statutory limits on campaign expenditure, reimbursement limits, key dates for the return of elections expenses and guidance for what is or is not an election expense.
The Guidelines are available to view here on the Commission’s website.
Further to this, following the commencement on 1 November 2024 of outstanding provisions in the Electoral Reform Act 2022, there have been changes to the Commission’s role in investigating and prosecuting offences which will be relevant to the 34th Dáil General Election, namely:
• new powers of investigation in relation to offences;
• powers to prosecute summary offences itself; and
• powers to issue fixed payment notices of €200, in lieu of prosecution, in respect of late returns.
In this regard, the Commission has published its Code for the Conduct of Electoral Investigations which can be viewed here.
In relation to the proper use of public resources in elections, the Commission receives queries concerning the use of Oireachtas facilities, including Oireachtas envelopes by TDs and Senators, particularly in the lead up to an election.
In the explanatory note here, the Commission sets out its position both in general terms and also with specific regard to the position in the lead up to a dissolution of the Dáil and after its dissolution in respect of which particular rules apply.
For further information, please contact:
media@sipo.ie
Standards in Public Office Commission
6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773 Phone: +353 (0) 1 639 5666
Email: media@sipo.ie
Website: www.sipo.ie
Twitter: @SIPOCIreland
Background
The Standards Commission was created in 2001, and is the independent body charged with oversight of the Ethics in Public Office Acts (1995 and 2001), the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended), the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014, and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
The members of the Standards Commission are:
• Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, Chairperson;
• Seamus McCarthy, Comptroller and Auditor General;
• Ger Deering Ombudsman;
• Peter Finnegan, Clerk of Dáil Éireann;
• Martin Groves, Clerk of Seanad Éireann;
• Geraldine Feeney, former member of Seanad Éireann.