SPENDING LIMITS will be imposed on candidates in next June's local elections, according to Minister for Environment and Local Government John Gormley.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which was considering a report on the issue, the Minister confirmed yesterday that limits would be introduced.
He told Labour TD Ciarán Lynch that while no decision had been taken at this stage about precise figures, limits would be introduced for the first time.
The report to the committee from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service cited international research that having election spending limits in place was an important factor in fighting corruption and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
"This perspective was strengthened by research on spending at the 1999 local elections which argued that 'even at the relatively minuscule levels found in Irish local elections, spending positively and significantly related to electoral success'," the report said.
Mean figures from that election showed Fianna Fáil candidates spent €2,477 each, Sinn Féin €2,057 each, Fine Gael €1,926 each, Labour €1,737 and the Greens just €982. The highest spenders were the Progressive Democrats at €3,335, while Independents spent €2,491 each.
Fianna Fáil TD Michael Fitzpatrick expressed the fear that the limits might lead to too much bureaucracy, but Mr Lynch said that as councillors were already subject to a range of regulation, including full disclosure of interests and election spending, imposition of limits would not lead to a cumbersome system.
Mr Gormley said the Electoral Act 1997 was the principal instrument regulating election spending.
"This landmark Act introduced limits on election expenditure as part of an integrated package of measures, including an element of public funding for political parties and a disclosure requirement for political donations above certain thresholds," he said.
The spending limits, which have increased in line with inflation over the years, have operated in respect of Dáil general and byelections, European Parliament elections and presidential elections since January 1st, 1998.
"These measures represented one of the most innovative and radical overhauls of our electoral system since the foundation of the State and have been strengthened over the years to bring greater transparency and accountability into spending by, and funding of, political parties, public representatives and candidates," Mr Gormley continued
"In particular, the 2001 Electoral (Amendment) Act introduced significant new requirements in relation to political donations, such as capping the size of donations, prohibiting foreign donations and requirements for a mandatory political donations account, with bank statements being furnished to the Standards in Public Office Commission."
Adding that he fully endorsed and supported these measures, Mr Gormley said he was conscious of the complexity of the system as it currently stood as well as the issues that had been raised in relation to its effectiveness as a whole.
"On the specific issue before us, my concern at the absence of spending limits at local elections is a matter of public record. While details of expenditure, as well as donations over a very low threshold, must be disclosed, the current statutory requirements need, in my view, to go further," he said.
