28/02/2008

Labour Shearing Funds During Electioneering

A Labour Party member has set the ball rolling for a limit to election spending.

Labour says some candidates in the 2004 local elections were reported to have spent in excess of €40,000, and have put forward a Private Members Bill in an attempt to curb big spending at election time.

The party intends for the Bill to be ratified in time for next year’s elections.

The Labour Party Spokesperson on Local Government, Deputy Ciaran Lynch, said the absence of spending limits for local election candidates was an anomaly, given there were spending limits for both Dail and European candidates.

The party believes the absence of any such spending limits leaves the way open for wealthy candidates to try to 'buy' their way into office and believes instead elections should take place on a “level playing pitch.”

(DW)

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