Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006
1482 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will use the powers available to him to vary, by ministerial order, the spending limits for general election candidates prior to the next general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28930/06]
View answerSection 32 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended, specifies the maximum amounts of expenditure which may be incurred on behalf of a candidate at a Dáil election. The amounts are €25,394.76 in a 3 seat constituency; €31,743.45 in a 4 seat constituency; and €38,092.14 in a 5 seat constituency. Section 3 of the Act provides that these amounts may be varied, by order of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, having regard to changes in the Consumer Price Index. Any such order must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. No decision regarding an amending order has been made at this stage.
