President must reimburse taxpayer for use of any publicly funded services during election: Sipo

President Michael D Higgins must reimburse taxpayers for using publicly funded services, including cars, offices, or staff at Áras an Uachtaráin during his campaign for re-election, the State’s ethics watchdog has declared.

Mr Higgins must also clearly differentiate where public funds are used to carry out his duties as an office holder and where those resources are used for electoral purposes.