Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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132. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to require providers of public relations and communications services to political parties and candidates to publicly disclose their clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64163/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as the establishment of election expenditure limits; the disclosure of election expenditure; the reimbursement of election expenses; the funding of political parties; the setting of limits on permissible donations; the prohibition of certain donations; the disclosure of donations; and the preparation and publication of annual statements of accounts by political parties.

The principal objectives of the Act are to ensure that there is openness and accountability in the relationships that exist between election candidates, elected members and political parties and those who would support them, whether by way of financial assistance or otherwise. The Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the relevant Parts of the Act and has published a range of guidelines to inform election candidates, Members of the Oireachtas, Members of the European Parliament, political parties, corporate donors and third parties of their obligations under the Act.

In this regard, section 31(1) of the Act provides for a definition for election expenses and confirms that they are those and only those set out in paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Act, which are incurred on the provision of property, goods or services for use at an election during the relevant election period. More specifically, the Schedule to the Act provides that election expenses fall under a number of broad categories. One of these categories is publicity which includes expenses incurred in connection with "dealings with the media, media advice and training".

Under the Act, statements of election expenses, which must be accompanied by a statutory declaration, must be furnished to SIPO by the election agent of each candidate, and by the national agent of each political party, within 56 days of polling day. These statements must be in writing, in a form directed by SIPO, and must include all election expenses (whether paid or not) incurred by such agent in relation to the election and the several matters to which such expenses relate.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its inaugural Research Programme 2024-2026 on 10 July 2024. Its research programme includes a commitment to undertake a review of the Electoral Act 1997. This policy area will be reviewed further by my Department once An Coimisiún has considered and reported on the issue.