In accordance with the provisions of Part IV of the Act, each person who, in the preceding year, was a Member of Dáil Éireann (TD), a Member of Seanad Éireann (Senator) or a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is required, by 31 January each year, to furnish to the Standards Commission a donation statement/certificate of monetary donations/statutory declaration and, where appropriate, a bank statement in respect of the previous year.
Section 4(1) of the Act requires the Standards Commission to consider every statement and notification furnished to it in relation to political donations and, where it considers it appropriate to do so, shall furnish a report in writing to the Ceann Comhairle on any matter arising.
This report concerns the statutory returns furnished in respect of 2016. As there was a general election to the Dáil and Seanad in 2016, those required to provide a Donation Statement in respect of 2016 include -
·Members of both Houses up to the date of the elections,
and
·current Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and MEPs.
As those outgoing TDs and Senators who unsuccessfully contested the Dáil or Seanad elections were required, within 56 days after the relevant election, to provide to the Commission a Donation Statement disclosing any donations received in relation to the election, the Commission decided that it was not necessary for them to provide another Donation Statement.
However, those TDs and Senators who did not contest the elections were required to provide a Donation Statement as they were Members of one or other of the Houses for part of 2016, i.e. up to the date of dissolution of the Dáil or cessation of the Seanad.
In accordance with section 4(5) of the Act the Commission's report must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
The relevant details relating to donations disclosed are given in the Appendices.