Want to help me change the way Irish democracy works? Then click the Donate button and support my campaign. All donations will be used solely for the campaign.

Candidate donations are closely regulated in Ireland (which is a good thing) so take a look at the below rules before you donate.

Thank you!


Further Information on Donations

The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 introduced additional requirements and restrictions on the acceptance of political donations. These provisions, which came into effect on 1 January 2013, apply to members of, and candidates seeking election to, the Dáil, Seanad, European Parliament and local authorities; to political parties, third parties and candidates at a Presidential election. They include the following provisions:

  • a reduction in the maximum donation that can be accepted by an individual elected representative or candidate from €2,539.47 (IR£2,000) to €1,000 and by a political party, accounting unit or third party from
    €6,348.69 (IR£5,000) to €2,500;
  • the introduction of a ban on the acceptance of a corporate donation in excess of €200 from a corporate donor unless the donor has registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission and a statement is furnished to the recipient confirming that the donation has been approved by the members, shareholders or trustees of the corporate donor concerned;
  • a reduction in the maximum amount that can be accepted as an anonymous donation from €126.97 (IR£100) to €100. The same reduction is to apply to the threshold for opening a political donations account. The definition of a ‘third party’ and ‘accounting unit’ has also changed and these bodies will now be recognised as such upon receipt of a donation that exceeds €100. The previous figure was €126.97 (IR£100);
  • a ban on the acceptance of any cash donation over €200, and;
  • where a donation is given through an intermediary, the identity of the person on whose behalf the donation is made will have to be provided to the recipient. It will be an offence to fail to provide this information.

Foreign Donations

A candidate must not accept a “foreign donation”. A foreign donation is a donation of whatever value, given by an individual (other than an Irish citizen) who resides outside the island of Ireland or by a body corporate or unincorporated body of persons which does not keep an office in the island of Ireland from which the carrying out of one or more of its principal activities is directed. The onus is on the recipient of the donation to satisfy him/herself that the donor is an Irish citizen.

More Information on Donations

Value of donation Net Valuation of donation (from fundraising events, etc.) determines disclosability.
Section 22(2)(vi) & Section 46(2)(a)(vi)
€100 An anonymous donation exceeding this amount cannot be accepted in any calendar year. Section 23(1) & Section 47(1)
€100 On receipt of a donation of this value, a political donations account must be opened by a TD, Senator, MEP, candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election, Presidential candidate/election agent, political party, sub-unit of a political party (e.g. branches, accounting units, cumann, a Comhairle Dáil Ceantair or any other sub-unit), or a third party (if one has not already been opened). Section 23B(1) & Section 48B(1)
€200 Maximum cash donation that may be accepted by a TD, Senator, MEP, candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election, Presidential candidate/election agent, political party, sub-unit of a political party, or a third party in any calendar year from a donor. Section 23A(1)(iii) & Section 48A(1)(iii)
€200 Maximum donation that may be accepted by a TD, Senator, MEP, candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election, Presidential candidate/election agent, political party, sub-unit of a political party, or third party in any calendar year from a corporate donor unless the corporate donor is registered in the Register of Corporate Donors maintained by the Commission and a statement, on behalf of the corporate donor confirming that the making of the donation was approved by the corporate donor, is furnished with the donation to the donee. Section 23AA(1)(i) & (ii) and Section 48AA(1)(i) & (ii)
€200 Maximum aggregate donation that a company, trade union, society or building society can give before reporting it in annual returns made under the Companies Act 1963, or to the Registrar of Friendly Societies or the report of a building society (under the Building Societies Act 1989). Section 26
€600 All donations received by a TD, Senator, MEP, candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election, or Presidential candidate/election agent exceeding this amount must be disclosed on the Donation Statement. Section 24(4) & Section 48(1)
€1,000 Maximum donation that may be accepted by a TD, Senator, MEP, candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election, or Presidential candidate/election agent from an individual or a registered corporate donor in any calendar year. Section 23A(1)(i) & Section 48A(1)(i)
€1,500 All donations received by a political party exceeding this amount must be disclosed on the Donation Statement. Section 24(4)
€1,500 Reporting threshold/maximum aggregate amount in any calendar year that a donor can give to multiple candidates of the same party or to the party itself before the donor is required to submit a donation statement. Section 24(1A)(a)
€2,500 Maximum donation that may be accepted by a political party, sub-unit of a political party, or a third party from an individual or a registered corporate donor in any calendar year. Section 23A(1)(ii) & Section 48A(1)(ii)

Further information on donations is available from the Standards in Public Office Commission
Telephone: 01 6395666
Email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: www.sipo.gov.ie