Political Donations - Notice for Third Parties
Political Donations - Third Party Notice
Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, as amended Third Parties Political Donations
1. Third Parties
Individuals, parties/groups etc., other than a registered political party, involved in political activity or other campaigning relating to the policy or functions of a local authority or other statutory body in which are vested functions in relation to local government must comply with certain requirements under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, as amended. Such persons are described in the legislation as "third parties".
2. Responsibilities of Third Parties
2.1 If, in any particular year, such an individual or group receive a donation exceeding €126.97 for a political purpose (defined in the Act), they are required to register with the County or Town Council in whose functional area the local political matter arises.
2.2 Any such third party must:
· open an account in a financial institution in the State if they receive a monetary donation for political purposes in a year which exceeds €126.97 and lodge that donation and any further donation received during the year.
· furnish to the appropriate local authority, not later than the 31 March in every year, a statement specifying the transactions that have taken place on that account. The statement must be accompanied by a certificate and statutory declaration (available from the Mayo Local Authorities listed below).
· not accept a donation for political purposes which exceeds €6,348.69;
· not accept an anonymous donation exceeding €126.97 in value
· not accept a donation of any value given by an individual (other than an Irish citizen) who resides outside the Island of Ireland or from a body corporate or unincorporated body of persons which does not keep an office in the island of Ireland from which the carrying out of one or more of its principal activities is directed.
3. Offence
It is an offence for a person who is required to comply with any of the above requirements to fail to do so.
4. Individuals or organisations who consider that the third party provisions may apply to them should contact the relevant Local Authorities in Mayo listed below.
Third party statements, certificates and statutory declarations must be furnished to the relevant Local Authority not later than the 31 March 2010.
The Guidelines for Third Parties Concerning Donations for Political Purposes may be inspected and downloaded on this site below:
- Guidelines for Third Parties Concerning Donations for Political Purposes (PDF)
- Guidelines for Third Parties Concerning Donations for Political Purposes (Word)
Hard Copies of the Guidelines are also available from the persons mentioned below.
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Jude Walsh |
Carmel Murphy |
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Marie Crowley |
Ann Moore |