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Political funding in Ireland

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to link public subsidies for party activity with financial incentives to generally encourage gender equality within the parties. This will be achieved by a legal prescription that parties will face a 50 per cent cut of their public subsidy unless at least 30 per cent of all candidates are women and at least 30 per cent are men. Moreover, Irish parties must apply some part of their subsidy to a variety of specified purposes, among them promoting youth and female political participation. Since no further clarification is provided, this may simply refer to the operation of separate women's and youth groups, which is a traditional feature of many parties. The financial reports filed by the three major parties for 2011 show that Fianna Fáil spent €7,50 for the purpose, but Fine Gael no more than €152. The Labour Party seems to differ considerably, because it spent €61,107 to promote female participation (although almost three-quarters of this total was spent on 'salaries and pensions').
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politicians cannot buy time on the broadcast media', independent candidates are granted by law 'some coverage in the news'. In addition, there is a subsidy for current party operations. In a per capita comparison of six countries it has turned out that Ireland is the most generous provider of public support to its parties.
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Ireland provides free broadcasting time for all parties which nominated a minimum number of candidates. The allocation formula seeks to give fair opportunities to all parties, taking into account the number of candidates presented and the share of votes polled in the previous election. Because 'Irish
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There is a ban on foreign donations. The legal maximum for anonymous donations is set at €100, rather low when compared to other countries. The annual maximum for all donors is €6,350 per party and €2,540 per parliamentary candidate. A late start among political finance reformers has enabled Ireland
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Limits to how much a candidate in an election may spend on their campaign were reintroduced by the 1997 act, having been abolished by the Electoral Act 1963. In Dáil, European, and Presidential elections, a lower limit is reimbursed from public funds provided the candidate reaches a minimum share of
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A recent study of general political spending levels has found (on a per capita basis) that Ireland was almost in line with Canada, slightly ahead of the United States and much more so of Australia and the United Kingdom. Quite in line with developments in other established democracies, Irish party
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has jurisdiction over party and candidate financing. International IDEA conveys the impression that hitherto it has displayed respectful neglect of all "big fish" donations, which tend to go unreported. Without presenting evidence for its deviating view, the GRECO report on Ireland assigns a much
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discriminating against poorer would-be candidates. The quota limit is applied to the candidate's votes including transfers rather than first-preference votes alone; therefore, a candidate whose vote total is too low for them to be elected will nevertheless not be eliminated as long as there
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were the parties which received the highest amounts of private funding. Fianna Fáil reported €432,501 and Sinn Féin total donations of €230,000. Whereas the bulk of the former funds were contributed by the business sector (e.g. hoteliers, builders etc.), most of the latter came from U.S.
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received €250,000 despite losing its last remaining elected representatives. Small parties on the brink of the threshold have also exhorted supporters to turn out even in constituencies where their local candidate has no chance of winning a seat.
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Counting of votes is also operated to help candidates and the rules are designed where possible to candidates getting back their election deposits and being eligible to be reimbursed for their election
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Under the Electoral Act 1997, a registered party is eligible for payments from the Central Fund in proportion to the percentage of total first-preference votes its candidates received at the previous
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The amount of election expenses which may be reimbursed to a candidate under these Regulations shall be the actual expenses incurred by the candidate or thirty thousand pounds whichever is the less
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headquarters have stepped up their routine activities and shifted their budgets accordingly, Salaries, wages and benefits comprise about one-third of party headquarters' annual spending.
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running in a single election; there are extra rules for pooling of expenses between candidates of the same party, or where a single candidate runs simultaneously in multiple elections.
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has re-emerged as an issue of public policy quite recently when in 2012 the Electoral Act of 1997 was amended to cover basic needs of transparency and control.
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Murphy, Ronan J. and Farrell, David M.: 'Party Politics in Ireland: Regularizing a Volatile System', in: Paul Webb, David Farrell and Ian Holliday (eds.):
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Murphy, Ronan J. and Farrell, David M.: 'Party Politics in Ireland: Regularizing a Volatile System', in: Paul Webb, David Farrell and Ian Holliday (eds.):
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Subsection (4B)(a) of section 17 of the Electoral Act of 1997 as inserted by no. 42 of the Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Act 2012.
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paid in advance by a candidate, reimbursed if the candidate reached one-quarter of a quota. The deposit provision was struck out in 2001 as
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Nassmacher, Karl-Heinz: The Funding of Party Competition. Political Finance in 25 Democracies, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2009, pp.77-78, 80-82.
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Farrell, David M.: 'Ireland: Centralization, Professionalization and Competitive Pressures', in: Katz, Richard S./ Mair, Peter (eds.):
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more positive evaluation to 'the proactive advisory role played by the Standards Commission to promote transparency of party funding'.
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Details about the sources of political funds prior to 2012 were rather scarce. Based on the information published for 1998 Murphy and
31:. This is subject to a minimum threshold of two percent of the total first-preference votes. There was criticism of this after the 1022: 1034: 1027: 975: 251: 28: 49: 838:
Lobbying, Government Relations and Campaign Finance. Navigating the Laws, Regulations and Practices if National Regimes
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quota. This reimbursement was introduced by the 1997 act and in 2001 replaced the previous system of requiring a
826:, Working Papers in International Studies No. 12/2011. Centre for International Studies, Dublin City University. 965: 489: 384: 312: 772:
http://www.idea.int/publications/funding-of-political-parties-and-election-campaigns/upload/foppec-p8.pdf
644:"Guidelines for the European Parliament Election of 24 May 2019 [Candidates and Election Agents]" 140: 1054: 1002: 985: 880: 32: 939: 980: 970: 97: 523: 1017: 997: 944: 105: 621:"S.I. No. 122/1999 - European Parliament Election (Reimbursement of Expenses) Regulations, 1999" 62: 934: 620: 110: 66: 172: 810:
Party Organizations. A Data Handbook on Party Organizations in Western Democracies, 1960-90
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GRECO Evaluation Report on Ireland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II), 2009, p. 8.
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uncertainty over whether they would reach the expenses threshold. The basic rules apply to
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How Partiers Organize. Change and Adaptation in Party Organizations in Western Democracies
8: 922: 767: 903: 518: 867: 928: 917: 101: 949: 340:"Renua will continue to collect €250k despite having no elected representatives" 53: 1048: 57: 490:"Private Business. - Funding of Political Parties and Candidates: Motion" 824:
Business Financing of Politics in Ireland - Theory, Evidence and Reform
551:"Surpluses and tallies: This is the dummy's guide to an election count" 434:
Business Financing of Politics in Ireland - Theory, Evidence and Reform
641: 872: 36: 436:, Working Papers in International Studies No. 12/2011, p. 9. 819:, London et al.: Sage Publications, 1994, pp. 216–241. 812:, London et al.: Sage Publications, 1992, pp. 389–457. 69:
was heavily reliant on contributions by the trade unions.
833:, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 217–47. 840:, Oxford: Oceana Publications, 2005, pp. 201–260. 836:
O'Dowd, John: 'Ireland', in: Grant, Thomas D. (ed.):
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Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies
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Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
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Standards in Public Office Commission (March 2019).
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Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
412:, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 230-31. 410:
Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies
366:"This election is make or break for the Green Party" 768:
http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/Annual/Disclosure
43: 868:http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/Annual-Reports/ 1046: 524:"Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage" 888: 582:. Citizens Information Board. 1 November 2018 385:"Vote Aontú and keep pro-life politics alive" 689: 671:. Citizens Information Board. 12 August 2013 600: 363: 895: 881: 860:– International IDEA, Strömsborg, Sweden 854:– International IDEA, Strömsborg, Sweden 96:the vote, defined as one-quarter of the 364:Augustenborg, Cara (19 February 2016). 214: 182: 1047: 515:Redmond v Minister for the Environment 382: 337: 902: 876: 858:2012 Political Party Finance Database 852:2003 Political Party Finance Database 770:; the whole paragraph is taken from: 548: 487: 252:Standards in Public Office Commission 494:Seanad Éireann (19th Seanad) debates 317:electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) 90: 1060:Politics of the Republic of Ireland 580:"Presidential elections in Ireland" 13: 808:Farrell, David M.: 'Ireland', in: 14: 1071: 845: 72: 22: 528:Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) debates 44:Sources of revenue up until 2012 788: 777: 760: 751: 742: 731: 720: 709: 683: 661: 594: 572: 542: 508: 481: 470: 461: 383:Conroy, Ben (23 January 2020). 265: 549:Reidy, Theresa (25 May 2019). 450: 439: 426: 415: 402: 357: 331: 305: 294: 245: 1: 625:electronic Irish Statute Book 282: 236: 488:Doyle, Avril (8 July 1992). 338:Leogue, Joe (11 June 2019). 287: 17:Political funding in Ireland 7: 530:. Oireachtas. 21 March 2002 229: 221: 211: 198: 190: 179: 166: 163: 150: 147: 81: 10: 1076: 801: 690:Stuart-Mills, Ian (2018). 601:Stuart-Mills, Ian (2017). 496:. Houses of the Oireachtas 33:2019 Irish local elections 958: 910: 794:GRECO report 2009, p. 25. 203: 171: 117:Election spending limits 258: 219:Population 18,001–35,000 98:single transferable vote 519:[2001] IEHC 128 227:Population up to 18,000 111:independent politicians 935:Grassroots fundraising 209:Population over 35,000 603:"European Elections" 313:"Electoral Act 1997" 273:local electoral area 63:friends of Sinn Féin 923:Corporate donations 669:"Election Expenses" 649:. p. 17 §1.8.2 118: 627:. p. §3(b)(i) 389:The Irish Catholic 275:at previous census 116: 106:unconstitutionally 1055:Political funding 1042: 1041: 904:Political finance 822:McMenamin, Iain: 774:, pp. 272-3, 296. 692:"Local Elections" 432:McMenamin, Iain: 422:Questions 20, 24. 370:Irish Independent 234: 233: 125:Constituency size 91:Election expenses 1067: 986:Party foundation 929:Follow the money 918:Campaign finance 897: 890: 883: 874: 873: 795: 792: 786: 781: 775: 764: 758: 755: 749: 746: 740: 738:Question 14, 18. 735: 729: 727:Questions 9, 10. 724: 718: 713: 707: 706: 704: 702: 687: 681: 680: 678: 676: 665: 659: 658: 656: 654: 648: 639: 634: 632: 617: 615: 613: 598: 592: 591: 589: 587: 576: 570: 569: 563: 561: 546: 540: 539: 537: 535: 512: 506: 505: 503: 501: 485: 479: 474: 468: 465: 459: 454: 448: 443: 437: 430: 424: 419: 413: 406: 400: 399: 397: 395: 380: 378: 376: 361: 355: 354: 352: 350: 335: 329: 328: 326: 324: 309: 303: 298: 276: 269: 119: 115: 29:general election 1075: 1074: 1070: 1069: 1068: 1066: 1065: 1064: 1045: 1044: 1043: 1038: 1030: 954: 950:Party subsidies 940:Party broadcast 906: 901: 848: 843: 804: 799: 798: 793: 789: 782: 778: 765: 761: 756: 752: 747: 743: 736: 732: 725: 721: 716:Questions 1, 2. 714: 710: 700: 698: 688: 684: 674: 672: 667: 666: 662: 652: 650: 646: 630: 628: 619: 611: 609: 599: 595: 585: 583: 578: 577: 573: 559: 557: 547: 543: 533: 531: 522: 513: 509: 499: 497: 486: 482: 475: 471: 466: 462: 455: 451: 444: 440: 431: 427: 420: 416: 407: 403: 393: 391: 374: 372: 362: 358: 348: 346: 336: 332: 322: 320: 311: 310: 306: 299: 295: 290: 285: 280: 279: 270: 266: 261: 248: 239: 134: 129: 93: 84: 75: 46: 25: 12: 11: 5: 1073: 1063: 1062: 1057: 1040: 1039: 1035:European Union 1032: 1031: 1025: 1023:United Kingdom 1020: 1015: 1010: 1005: 1000: 995: 990: 989: 988: 978: 973: 968: 962: 960: 956: 955: 953: 952: 947: 942: 937: 932: 925: 920: 914: 912: 908: 907: 900: 899: 892: 885: 877: 871: 870: 865: 861: 855: 847: 846:External links 844: 842: 841: 834: 827: 820: 813: 805: 803: 800: 797: 796: 787: 776: 759: 750: 741: 730: 719: 708: 682: 660: 593: 571: 555:Independent.ie 541: 521:, 4 I.R. 61; 507: 480: 469: 460: 449: 438: 425: 414: 401: 356: 344:Irish Examiner 330: 304: 292: 291: 289: 286: 284: 281: 278: 277: 271:Population of 263: 262: 260: 257: 247: 244: 238: 235: 232: 231: 228: 224: 223: 220: 216: 215: 213: 210: 207: 201: 200: 197: 193: 192: 189: 185: 184: 181: 178: 175: 169: 168: 165: 162: 159: 153: 152: 149: 146: 143: 137: 136: 131: 126: 123: 92: 89: 83: 80: 74: 73:Public support 71: 45: 42: 24: 23:Public funding 21: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1072: 1061: 1058: 1056: 1053: 1052: 1050: 1037: 1036: 1029: 1028:United States 1026: 1024: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1011: 1009: 1006: 1004: 1001: 999: 996: 994: 991: 987: 984: 983: 982: 979: 977: 974: 972: 969: 967: 964: 963: 961: 957: 951: 948: 946: 945:Party funding 943: 941: 938: 936: 933: 930: 926: 924: 921: 919: 916: 915: 913: 909: 905: 898: 893: 891: 886: 884: 879: 878: 875: 869: 866: 864: 862: 859: 856: 853: 850: 849: 839: 835: 832: 828: 825: 821: 818: 814: 811: 807: 806: 791: 785: 784:pp. 277, 280. 780: 773: 769: 763: 754: 745: 739: 734: 728: 723: 717: 712: 697: 693: 686: 670: 664: 645: 638: 626: 622: 608: 604: 597: 581: 575: 568: 556: 552: 545: 529: 525: 520: 516: 511: 495: 491: 484: 478: 473: 464: 458: 453: 447: 442: 435: 429: 423: 418: 411: 405: 390: 386: 371: 367: 360: 345: 341: 334: 318: 314: 308: 302: 301:pp. 260, 261. 297: 293: 274: 268: 264: 256: 253: 243: 226: 225: 218: 217: 208: 206: 202: 195: 194: 187: 186: 176: 174: 170: 160: 158: 155: 154: 144: 142: 139: 138: 133:Reimbursement 132: 127: 124: 122:Election type 121: 120: 114: 112: 107: 103: 99: 88: 79: 70: 68: 64: 59: 55: 52:contend that 51: 41: 38: 34: 30: 20: 18: 1033: 992: 837: 830: 823: 816: 809: 790: 779: 762: 753: 744: 733: 722: 711: 699:. 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Part III 283:References 237:Regulation 167:38,092.14 966:Australia 567:expenses. 288:Citations 183:8,700.00 58:Sinn Féin 157:European 145:National 135:limit € 128:Spending 82:Spending 993:Ireland 981:Germany 971:Austria 802:Sources 477:p. 275. 457:p. 271. 222:11,500 199:30,150 191:37,650 164:230,000 148:750,000 130:limit € 102:deposit 65:). The 61:donors( 50:Farrell 1018:Sweden 998:Israel 976:Canada 230:9,750 212:13,000 196:3-seat 188:4-seat 180:45,200 177:5-seat 1003:Japan 911:Terms 647:(PDF) 517: 259:Notes 205:Local 37:Renua 35:when 766:See 703:2019 677:2019 655:2019 633:2019 614:2019 588:2019 562:2019 536:2019 502:2019 396:2020 377:2020 351:2020 325:2020 250:The 173:Dáil 56:and 161:Any 1051:: 694:. 640:; 635:. 623:. 618:; 605:. 564:. 553:. 526:. 492:. 387:. 381:; 368:. 342:. 315:. 931:" 927:" 896:e 889:t 882:v 705:. 679:. 657:. 616:. 590:. 538:. 504:. 398:. 379:. 353:. 327:.

Index

general election
2019 Irish local elections
Renua
Farrell
Fianna Fáil
Sinn Féin
friends of Sinn Féin
Labour Party
single transferable vote
deposit
unconstitutionally
independent politicians
Presidential
European
Dáil
Local
Standards in Public Office Commission
local electoral area
pp. 260, 261.
"Electoral Act 1997"
"Renua will continue to collect €250k despite having no elected representatives"
"This election is make or break for the Green Party"
"Vote Aontú and keep pro-life politics alive"
Questions 20, 24.
Question 19.
p. 271.
p. 275.
"Private Business. - Funding of Political Parties and Candidates: Motion"
[2001] IEHC 128
"Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage"

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