Parties yet to decide on how to split the bill on Catherine Connolly's presidential campaign

Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly leaving the first presidential debate on The Tonight Show, at Virgin Media Television Studios in Dublin. Picture date: Monday September 29, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The political parties supporting Catherine Connolly continue to discuss how they each will fund the campaign.

Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, and People Before Profit have committed to supporting Ms Connolly, whose campaign has thus far been funded by donations.

There has been no agreement on how to split financing arrangements, according to sources, who claimed guidance from the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) on how parties can support an independent candidate had been somewhat unclear.

A source close to the campaign said the support of the parties was about more than money, pointing to constituency organisations, volunteers, and canvassers. They said Sinn Féin's organisation, particularly, was a boon to the Connolly campaign.

"There's a ready-made network in every constituency and they've been extremely enthusiastic so far," a campaign source said.

A Sinn Féin TD said they had been "pleasantly surprised" by how supportive party activists have been of Ms Connolly thus far. A Sinn Féin source said the parties supporting Ms Connolly are deciding how to handle logistics around printing materials in accordance with Sipo rules.

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A spokesperson for the Connolly campaign said that the additional support from parties was welcome, but pointed out that there has been a groundswell of individual donations which had raised €170,000.

"The campaign has raised €170k, the vast majority from small, grassroots donations. In addition to the political endorsements received, the financial and material support from political parties supporting Catherine's campaign is very welcome.

"All of our fundraising arrangements are in accordance with Sipo guidelines, and these will be submitted in the appropriate returns as required and made available through the normal channels."

Sipo rules

According to Sipo, the position regarding spending by political parties on independent candidates at a Presidential election is provided for by Section 52 (6)(d) of the Electoral Act 1997.

A Sipo spokesperson said this means that a political party can incur expenditure on an independent candidate, subject to the spending limit.

"It should also be noted that expenditure by political parties on an independent candidate must be authorised by the candidate’s Presidential election agent. 

"While political parties can incur expenditure on independent candidates, please note €1,000 is the maximum monetary donation that may be accepted by a candidate from a political party."

Sipo said for candidates who do represent parties, they can assign part of their own spending to the party. 

The commission added: "Candidates who run with political parties may assign a portion of their spending to their party. This portion should be agreed between the party and the candidate prior to the election window. 

"Subsequent spending on the candidate by their party is not considered a donation and must continue to adhere to the spending limits set out for candidates in each election."