Latest news with #ElectoralAct1997
The Journal
02-08-2025
- Business
- The Journal
The money candidates for President can claim back in expenses is going up by €50,000
THE VALUE OF election campaign expenses that candidates running to be President of Ireland can claim back is increasing by €50,000. The maximum amount of election expenses that can be reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election is rising from the previous amount of €200,000 up to €250,000. Election expenses are reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election if the candidate is either elected or receives enough votes to reach more than one-quarter of the quota. Advertisement Minister for Local Government James Browne signed an order today bringing the change into effect. A statement released by his department this evening said that the change was made under ministerial powers to adjust the maximum value of expenses alongside inflation. 'Applying the Consumer Price Index increase since the amount was last revised resulted in a potential increase to €252,700, which has been rounded down to €250,000,' the statement said. Under the Electoral Act 1997, a candidate in a presidential election is not allowed to spend more than €750,000 in total on their campaign. As President Michael D. Higgins is reaching the end of his term, an election for his successor must be held by 11 November. Related Reads Labour Party throws support behind Catherine Connolly as Left unity candidate for president Fianna Fáil staying schtum on presidential candidate, but here's the names in the mix (so far) A date has not been formally set yet but there's plenty of talk in political circles about who the candidates will be. So far, two candidates with enough support to be on the ballot have formally declared themselves: Former EU Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness for Fine Gael and Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who is jointly backed by the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Labour as a left-wing candidate. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
01-08-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Presidential candidates can now be reimbursed up to €250k for election expenses
An order increasing the maximum amount of election expenses that can be reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election from €200,000 to €250,000 has been signed by Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne. Election expenses are reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election who is elected or, if not elected, the total of their votes exceeds one quarter of the quota. Advertisement Section 21A of the Electoral Act 1997 provides that the maximum amount of election expenses that can be reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election is €200,000. However, under the Act, the minister may vary the amounts having regard to changes in the Consumer Price Index. A review of the amounts typically takes place in advance of each election. Applying the CPI increase since the amount was last revised resulted in a potential increase to €252,700 which has been rounded down to €250,000. Section 53 (as amended) of the Electoral Act 1997 provides that spending by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed €750,000. It is not proposed to increase the spending limit, so it will remain at €750,000.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Former Meath councillor Tommy Reilly faces two-day SIPO hearing
The rescheduled investigation will examine 'alleged contraventions of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for Councillors by Mr Tommy Reilly, former Councillor of Meath County Council," according to a statement from SIPO. SIPO, established in 2001, is an independent and non-partisan body tasked with ensuring compliance with several key pieces of legislation, including the Ethics in Public Office Acts, the Electoral Act 1997, the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014, and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. The upcoming hearing follows a previous ethics investigation by Meath County Council into Cllr Reilly's involvement in the rezoning of a 35-acre site in Liscarton, on the outskirts of Navan. The land, owned by his son, saw its value rise from €500,000 to €4.2m after it was rezoned in 2017. Cllr Reilly had declared a conflict of interest at the time and did not participate in the council vote on the rezoning in July 2017. The rezoning and surrounding events were later highlighted in a detailed report by journalist Frank Connolly for The Village magazine. Following that, Jackie Maguire, the chief executive of Meath County Council at the time carried out a review of Cllr Reilly's role. The hearing will take place today and om Monday, June 16.
