Fianna Fail election tactics

by Mags Wed May 15, 2002 13:23

This is crap. What is a 'registered organisation'. 'Registered' with who, exactly.
To run as a political party in the election and have that on the ballot paper - i.e. Charlie Woolyback, Fianna Fail - you have to be registered as a legitimate political party with the clerk of the Dail.
You do NOT have to be 'registered' to put up posters, at election time or any other time. So tell them this. You can also say you will take them down by a particular time (whether you do or not is a different matter).
This is just blatant intimidation.

by GSE Wed May 15, 2002 17:20

1. the SWP has nothing to do with GSE. are you trying to hijack another campaign?
2. if you're british, then you can't talk about racism. there are a few history books out there that you should read. your reference to racism is moronic.

by Phuq Hedd Wed May 15, 2002 19:01

Of course the top-poster can talk about racism, and yes Ogra-FF telling someone to "go back where you came from" is racist!

Your assumption that he doesn't know history, doesn't know about racism etc. is foolish.

by fuinseog Wed May 15, 2002 23:51

It's in the Electoral Act 1997.

See the website.

Relevant bits include;

4.1 The legislation recognises a role for third parties in the electoral process. A third party is defined in the legislation as meaning any person, other than a registered political party or a candidate at an election, who accepts, in a particular year, a donation for political purposes the value of which exceeds €126.97 (£100) (see definition of political purposes in Appendix 1).

4.4 The legislation also recognises that a person, who is not a candidate, an election agent of a candidate, a national agent of a political party or a third party (as defined in paragraph 4.1 above), may become involved in the election by promoting or opposing a candidate or a political party.

[Note: The difference between a person covered by paragraph 4.4 and a third party referred to in paragraph 4.1 above is that the person referred to in paragraph 4.4 would not have accepted, in a particular year, a donation the value of which exceeds €126.97 (£100).]

4.5 Before incurring any expenses at an election, a third party referred to in paragraph 4.1 above and a person referred to in paragraph 4.4 above, which or who proposes to incur election expenses, must furnish to the Commission, in writing:

i) the name, address and description of the person proposing to incur the expenses,

ii) a statement of the nature, purpose and estimated amount of such expenses, and

iii) an indication of the person's connection, if any, with any political party or candidate at the election.

'political purposes' means any of the following purposes namely;

(i)(I) to promote or oppose directly or indirectly, the interests of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas or a representative in the European Parliament, or

(II) to present, directly or indirectly the policies or a particular policy of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, a representative in the European Parliament or a third party, or

(III) to present, directly or indirectly, the comments of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, a representative in the European Parliament or a third party with regard to the policy or policies of another political party, political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, representative in the European Parliament, third party or candidate at an election or referendum or otherwise, or

(IV) to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the interests of a third party in connection with the conduct or management of any campaign conducted with a view to promoting or procuring a particular outcome in relation to a policy or policies or functions of the Government or any public authority;

(ii) to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election or to solicit votes for or against a candidate or to present the policies or a particular policy of a candidate or the views of a candidate on any matter connected with the election or the comments of a candidate with regard to the policy or policies of a political party or a political group or of another candidate at the election or otherwise;

(iii) otherwise to influence the outcome of the election or a referendum or campaign referred to in paragraph (i)(IV) of this definition.

Very wide-ranging and should be of concern to all NGOs.

by Phuq Hedd Thu May 16, 2002 05:06

from what you've quoted it's only of concern Iff you're proposing to incur expenses?

by John Connolly - SWP Thu May 16, 2002 07:54

Sorry 'GSE' but the SWP is involved in Galway for a Safe Environment. Are we hijacking their campign, erm, no, like i said we are involved in their campaign just like the Green Party is.
If you knew your facts you would find that the SWP in Galway gave the GSE old posters so that the posters i mentioned in my first post could be pasted on the back.
And sorry 'GSE', Phuq Hedd is right about the racist remark, cheers Phuq Hedd.

by fuinseog Thu May 16, 2002 18:44

probably means spend money, e.g. print posters, leaflets etc., post letters, send faxes, make phone calls to journalists, etc.

by Maire C. Fri May 17, 2002 02:05

what a moron-is it possible for a Brit to criticise any crime committed by a Brit?
you would blame him for the crimes of the Empire just because of his race???????
who's the racist here, eh??????