Local elections spending limits urged

ENVIRONMENT Minister Martin Cullen is being urged to prevent the rich buying their way into power by bringing in spending limits for the local elections.

No cap on spending exists for local elections, despite tight limits being in place for general elections and European elections. Research has shown that spending in local elections is directly related to success at the polls.

Fine Gael wants Mr Cullen to broaden his view of electoral legislation to include the law covering local elections. According to environment spokesman Bernard Allen there is a major anomaly when elections covering larger geographic areas have spending limits while local elections don’t.

Considering the corruption in certain local authorities highlighted at the tribunals, he said the Government had to limit the necessity for candidates to seek donations.

“I am amazed that the minister is not moving on this as a relatively small investment will saturate an area. Parties with deeper resources can fight a bigger campaign and be successful. We have to ensure that local politics does not become the domain of the wealthy or those who can attract large donations,” he said.

If Mr Cullen fails to re-examine the issue, Mr Allen says he will bring forward his own proposals as a Private Members Bill but doesn’t feel the issue needs to be politicised.

The 1999 local elections were contested by 1,838 candidates in 180 local constituencies and 34 councils.

Under the Local Elections (Disclosure and Expenditure) Act, all candidates have to furnish local authorities with details of expenditure incurred in the time between the Government issuing the polling day order and the actual polling day, covering a period of about four weeks. Also, they must make returns on donations received.

The minister’s review covers the Electoral Act, covering national and European elections, but a department spokesman said it couldn’t be ruled out that local elections would be examined.

Spending by candidates in the last local elections was examined by Trinity College Dublin lecturers Michael Marsh and Kenneth Benoit. The research found that in many successful candidates’ cases, money mattered.

“The findings clearly indicate that even at the relatively miniscule spending levels found in Irish local elections, spending is positively and significantly related to electoral success,” the report says.

The head of the representative body for local authority members, the General Council of County Councillors, also supports the idea of introducing a spending cap.

Chairman Cllr John Egan said he personally didn’t find large scale expenditure in the local elections was necessary and could be controlled.

“I think there should be a limit on spending within reason,” he said.