Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937

Method of nomination by nominating bodies.

23.—(1) At the following times, that is to say:—

(a) as soon as practicable after the publication of the register of nominating bodies in the Iris Oifigiúil, and

(b) within ten days after every dissolution of Dáil Eireann,

the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every nominating body registered in the register of nominating bodies a form of nomination paper and also a notice in the prescribed form informing such body of its right to nominate persons to a specified panel and of the number of persons which such body is entitled so to nominate and giving to such body such information and instructions in relation to the making of the nomination as the Minister shall think proper to prescribe.

(2) All nominations to a panel by a nominating body shall be made in accordance with the following provisions, that is to say:—

(a) such nominations shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;

(b) every nominating body shall nominate by one and the same nomination paper all the persons which it is entitled to nominate;

(c) every nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein (including a statement of the qualifications of every person thereby nominated for the panel to which he is nominated) and shall be signed by the nominating body making a nomination thereby;

(d) where the nominating body is a body corporate, the nomination paper shall be signed by such body by affixing to such paper the seal of such body in the manner and with the counter-signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of such body;

(e) where the nominating body is not a body corporate, the nomination paper shall be signed in the name of the body by some person having authority to sign in that name.

(3) In the case of the Irish County Councils' General Council and in the case of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, the persons to be nominated to the administrative panel by such bodies respectively shall be chosen by the members of such body voting on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

(4) Every nomination paper which purports to be sealed with the seal of a body corporate which is a nominating body and to be countersigned shall until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so sealed in the manner and with the counter-signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of such body.

(5) Every nomination paper which purports to be signed in the name of an unincorporated body which is a nominating body shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so signed by a person having authority to sign in that name.

(6) Where a nominating body purports to nominate by a nomination paper either more persons or less persons to a panel than such nominating body is entitled so to nominate, such nomination paper shall be wholly void.

(7) The Seanad returning officer shall furnish free of charge on request to every nominating body such number of forms of nomination paper (in addition to the form which he is required by the first sub-section of this section to send to such body) as such body shall reasonably require.