Electoral Reform Act 2022

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Qualifying criteria for registration of political parties

45. Subject to section 46 , the Registrar shall register a political party which applies for registration provided the application complies with the requirements of this Chapter and that—

(a) the party is organised in the State or in a part thereof specified in the application as a party organised to contest all or any of the elections referred to in section 43 (1),

(b) (i) (I) the party has not less than 300 recorded members or, in the case of a party applying for registration as a party organised to contest elections in part of the State or local elections only, 100 recorded members, each of whom (in any of the foregoing cases) has reached the age of 18 years, and

(II) at least 50 per cent of the recorded members are registered in the electoral register,

(ii) the party has at least one member who, at the time the application for registration is made, is a member of Dáil Éireann or is a representative in the European Parliament (whether by reason of his or her having been elected as such a representative in the State or having been nominated as a replacement candidate under the Act of 1997) and who certifies in writing to the Registrar that he or she is a member of the party, or

(iii) in the case of a party which applies for registration as a party organised to contest a local election only, it has at least 3 members who are, at the time the application for registration is made, members of a local authority and each of whom certifies in writing to the Registrar that he or she is a member of the party,

and

(c) the organisation and direction of the party are governed by a constitution, a memorandum of association or other such document or other written rules adopted by the party and which provide for—

(i) an annual or other periodic meeting or conference of the party, and

(ii) the conduct of the business of the party by an executive committee or similar body elected by the party.