Electoral Act, 1997

Limitation of election expenses at European election.

33.—(1) (a) The aggregate of election expenses which may be incurred by or on behalf of a candidate in connection with his or her candidature at a European election shall not exceed the relevant amount specified for the constituency by the Minister by order under this section.

(b) (i) Where a political party authenticates the candidature of a candidate at a European election, the party may incur such proportion not exceeding fifty per cent, of the amount of the election expenses which that candidate is entitled to incur at that election under an order under this subsection, as may be agreed in writing between the party and the candidate concerned.

(ii) The election expenses which a political party may incur under subparagraph (i) may relate to expenditure in the constituency concerned or otherwise, and the said election expenses shall be deemed for the purposes of paragraph (a) to be expenses incurred by that candidate.

(2) Subject to subsection (l)(b)(i), the aggregate of election expenses which may be incurred by the national agent of a political party on behalf of that party at a European election shall be the sum of the amounts of election expenses agreed in writing pursuant to subsection (1)(b)(i) between the party and candidates whose candidatures were authenticated by the party at the election.

(3) Where an order under this section is proposed to be made, a draft thereof shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each House.