Vol. 575 No. 4
43 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to introduce legislation or regulations to impose limits on campaign spending in the local elections to remove the anomaly whereby there are spending limits in general elections but not in local elections. [28496/03]
The introduction of expenditure limits at local elections was considered during the passage of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 through both Houses. It was decided not to introduce limits given the fundamental difference between local and other elections in terms of scale. For example, there were 3,085 candidates at the local elections in June 1999. This compares with 42 at the European elections held on the same day and 463 at the 2002 general election. Similarly for constituencies, there are 268 local electoral areas compared to 42 Dáil and four European Parliament constituencies.
Experience has show that local authority candidates do not spend significant amounts of money. The introduction of limits would create additional bureaucratic procedures which are not justified in their case.
The regime which operated at the 1999 local elections and will apply, with minor amendments, at the 2004 polls is a local scheme appropriate to local elections. It is less costly, less bureaucratic and simpler to operate than the scheme for general and European Parliament elections, yet it still embodies the important reporting and disclosure principles of the Electoral Act 1997 for donations and expenditure.
For the reasons stated, I do not regard the differences between general elections and local elections in this regard as anomalous and I have no proposals to align the regimes involved further.
Does the Minister agree that evidence available from studies done on elections shows that the number of votes won by a candidate is proportionate to the amount of resources put into his or her campaign? Despite his reservations about introducing a limit, does he agree that a major anomaly exists because a limit on campaign spending of approximately €40,000 applies to candidates in a five seat Dáil constituency while candidates in a local election could spend €40,000 or €400,000 on their campaign? Anybody who has the necessary resources or puts his or her mind to getting elected will get elected by spending money and entertaining constituents, as many candidates are already doing. Will the Minister reconsider introducing a limit on campaign spending in local elections despite the logistical difficulties? What is the problem in this regard concerning European elections which the Minister cannot address?
Following the 1999 local elections, a large sample of expenditure returns were analysed and the reported expenditure was low. For the information of Members, in the county council elections. the average spent per candidate was—
What is the source of those returns?
They are a sample of expenditure returns. When the returns were made, a sample of them—
We do not have to make returns.
Candidates must do so in the case of local elections.
They do not have to do so.
They must under the regulations. They must be lodged with the local authorities, not the Public Offices Commission. Returns were made. I can give the Deputy the figures. The most spent was by candidates standing for seats in the corporations, as they were then, with the average spend per candidate being €2,981. The average spend per candidate in the case of the borough corporations and urban district councils was €635 and €311 in the case of town commissioners.
Deputy Allen has been a Member of the House for a long time, even longer than I have been, and he has fought many elections.
That is why I raise this issue.
If money could buy people their way into Dáil Éireann or local government—
You bought the last election.
I did not.
Not the Minister, the Government.
I have travelled extensively throughout the country in recent months. What will win people elections far more than anything else is the use of shoe leather and knocking on doors.
The elections will be won on the basis that the promises made by the Government during the previous general election will be remembered by the electorate. What are the logistical problems with European elections?
There are no logistical problems with them. I was simply making a comparison. All the reporting procedures are in place for European and general elections.
I referred to the scale and figures involved in local elections. I do not want to overburden people. We are aware of the position in the Dáil and the increase in bureaucracy. All Members have stated that they want to examine this area and ensure there is transparency in this regard. People want to know from where the money spent comes, how it is spent and the volume of spending. It should be done in a more sensible way. I do not want to foist this on the local authority system as it has worked well.
For the purpose of additional reporting of expenses for next year's local elections, all candidates will be given a form which breaks the legislation down into more specific terms such as where sources of funding came from and the donation limits. Candidates will now be required to open a separate bank account for election expenses similar to what Members are required to do. They must show, under various headings for advertising, posters and so forth, how campaign money was spent which is then lodged with the relevant local authority.
In his capacity as the premier league champion for political donations, can the Minister inform us what directives and advice will be given to candidates?
The guidelines are being formalised. Colleagues from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party have been asking for them and they are ready to be sent out to all Members. Most EU countries do not have expenditure limits for local elections. However, I understand that Belgium, Portugal, Spain and the UK provide for similar restrictions to those we have in place.
