Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937

Death or disqualification of a candidate.

34.—(1) Where, before the expiration of the time for general panel nominations, a nominating body satisfies the Seanad returning officer that a person nominated to a panel by such nominating body has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel the nomination of such person, and thereupon such nomination shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act never to have been received by the Seanad returning officer and it shall be lawful for such nominating body to nominate in accordance with this Act a person to such panel in the place of the person who has so died or become disqualified.

(2) Where, before the expiration of the time for Dáil panel nominations, the Seanad returning officer is satisfied that a person nominated to a panel by members of Dáil Eireann has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel such nomination and thereupon such nomination shall be deemed never to have been made.

(3) In the counting of the votes cast at a Seanad election all the preferences recorded for a candidate named in a panel of whose death (whether before or after the completion of such panel) the Seanad returning officer is satisfied before the close of the poll shall be disregarded and regard shall be had in lieu thereof to the next available preferences.

(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, the fact that a candidate named in a panel has (whether before or after the completion of such panel or before or after the close of the poll) died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann shall not invalidate or prejudice such panel or the nomination of such candidate thereto or any preferences recorded for him, and, if he is elected, his election shall not be invalidated by reason of his having so died or become disqualified, but he shall be deemed to have vacated his membership of Seanad Eireann immediately after his said election thereto.