Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 90 seeks to amend the definition of “subsidiary organisation” in section 22(1) of the Electoral Act 1997 to specify, for the avoidance of doubt, that a subsidiary organisation of a political party includes "a body or association that has an office outside the State". This amendment also provides for an amendment to the definition of "donation" in section 22(2)(a) to confirm that a donation from a subsidiary organisation of a political party which keeps an office outside of the State falls within the meaning of "donation". Amendment No. 90 also provides for the insertion of a new definition of "cryptocurrency" in section 22(2)(aa) of the Act and for an update to the definition of "institution" in the same section to reflect changes in the banking sector since the Act was first commenced, that is, the dissolution of ACC Bank and changes in the European Union regulations governing the financial services sector.

This update will provide that credit unions are institutions within the meaning of the Act, and this will allow for political donation accounts to be opened in credit unions for the first time, which I am sure we will all welcome.