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Environment Minister Phil Hogan has today announced further electoral reforms as part of the most significant  political reform package announced in decades. The decisions taken by Government will restrict corporate donations significantly and cut political party funding by half unless 30% of general election candidates are women.

Announcing the package, the Minister said:

To increase the participation of women in politics, Parties will see their state funding halved if they do not meet the new requirements to have at least 30% women and 30% men candidates at the next Dáil general election. This will rise to 40% after seven years. This initiative is a groundbreaking political opportunity to incentivise a shift towards gender balance in Irish politics.  Women make up 50% of our population and they are significantly underrepresented in our political institutions. This will have a positive impact on women’s participation in local elections also.

The Bill will significantly reduce the maximum amount that can be accepted as a political donation.  The thresholds for the declaration of donations are also being reduced. Among the measures being introduced are:

• A reduction in the limits on political donations that may be accepted:  from €6,348.69 to €2,500 by a political party and €2,539.48 to €1,000 by an individual;
• A reduction in the thresholds at which donations must be declared to SIPO from €5,078.95 to €1,500 by a political party; and from €634.87 to €600 for an individual;

Other initiatives already announced as part of the Governments overall reform package, the most significant in decades are:

• Changing the terms of reference of the Constituency Commission which will result in a reduction in the number of TDs;
• The reduction of the presidential election spending limit;
• The introduction of a six month time limit to hold bye-elections;
• The removal of the automatic entitlement of Ministerial cars

You can view the Minister's comments and doorstep on the reform as well as other issues below: