European Assembly Elections Act, 1984
In short
This law, the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984, makes additional provisions for the election of representatives to the Assembly of the European Communities. It primarily focuses on the nomination and management of "replacement candidates" for these elections.
What it regulates
- The eligibility of individuals to be elected as representatives to the Assembly.
- The process for registered political parties and non-party candidates to nominate replacement candidates.
- The format and delivery of lists containing replacement candidates.
- The handling of replacement candidates' lists by the returning officer, including their validity and public display.
Who it concerns
- Individuals seeking to be elected as representatives to the Assembly of the European Communities.
- Registered political parties and non-party candidates participating in Assembly elections.
- The Attorney General, and holders of certain offices like Chairman or Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, and Minister of State.
Key points
- A person ineligible for Dáil Éireann membership or holding the office of Attorney General cannot be elected to the Assembly.
- If elected to the Assembly, certain office holders (e.g., Chairman of Dáil Éireann, Minister of State) must cease to hold those offices.
- Registered political parties can nominate replacement candidates, not exceeding by more than four the number of their validly nominated candidates.
- Non-party candidates can nominate up to three replacement candidates.
Legal text
European Assembly Elections Act, 1984 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
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- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1984 European Assembly Elections Act, 1984 European Assembly Elections Act, 1984 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 6 of 1984 EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ACT, 1984 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. Qualification of candidates, etc. 3. Replacement candidates. 4. Replacement candidates' list. 5. Delivery and withdrawal of replacement candidates' list, etc. 6. Casual vacancies. 7. Amendment of First Schedule to Principal Act. 8. Repeals. 9. Short title, collective citation and construction. Acts Referred to Electoral Act, 1963 1963, No. 19 European Assembly Elections Act, 1977 1977, No. 30 Number 6 of 1984 EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ACT, 1984 AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION AS REGARDS THE ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES. [17th April, 1984] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Definitions. 1.—In this Act— “non-party candidate” means a candidate who is not a candidate of a registered political party; “the Principal Act” means the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977 ; “registered political party” means a party which pursuant to section 8 of the Principal Act is for the time being registered in the Register of Political Parties as a party organised to contest an Assembly election; “replacement candidate” means a replacement candidate for the purposes of this Act; “replacement candidates' list” has the meaning assigned to it by section 3
- a)Chairman or Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann or Chairman or Deputy Chairman of Seanad Éireann, (
- b)Minister of State, shall on such election, or, in case he is to be so regarded, on the day on which he commences to be so regarded, cease to hold that office.
- a)becomes subject to any of the disqualifications applicable to membership of Dáil Éireann, or (
- b)becomes the holder of an office mentioned in subsections
- a)a registered political party, and (
- b)a person who in relation to the election is a non-party candidate, may, subject to and in accordance with the following provisions of this section, nominate with his or their consent one or more persons to be as regards the election replacement candidates.
- a)the number of replacement candidates to be so nominated shall not— (
- i)in the case of replacement candidates so nominated by a registered political party, exceed by more than four the number of candidates of that party standing validly nominated at the latest time for withdrawal of candidature under Rule 12 of the First Schedule to the Principal Act, and (
- ii)in the case of replacement candidates so nominated by a non-party candidate, exceed three, (
- b)a person shall not be nominated as a replacement candidate unless he is eligible for election under the Principal Act to the Assembly, (
- c)a person may not be so nominated in respect of more than one constituency, (
- d)the replacement candidates so nominated as regards a particular constituency shall be nominated by each of their name's being entered on a list (elsewhere in this Act referred to as the “replacement candidates' list”) and in nominating replacement candidates as regards a particular constituency, the registered political party or, as may be appropriate, the non-party candidate concerned, shall, subject to section 5
- a)of this section, the name together with (if the officer or officers by whom the list is signed so wish) the initials or other abbreviation (if any) by which the party concerned is known, or (
- b)in case the list is signed by a non-party candidate at the election, the name of that candidate (the surname being stated first).
- a)a note of the qualifications, disqualifications and incapacities as regards election to and membership of the Assembly, (
- b)a form of declaration, to be signed by— (
- i)in case the list is signed by an officer referred to in subsection
- a)of this section, the officer or, as may be appropriate, the officers signing the list, (
- ii)in case the list is signed by a person who is a non-party candidate at the relevant election, that person, that he has read the notes and, as regards the replacement candidates nominated by entry on such list, he believes each of them to be eligible for nomination under this Act as a replacement candidate and none of them to stand validly nominated as a replacement candidate as regards any other constituency.
- a)Where a replacement candidates' list is presented to the returning officer, he shall assign to the list one or more letters for the purpose of identifying it and, when such letter or letters is or are so assigned, the replacement candidates' list to which it or they relate may (unless it is withdrawn, deemed under this Act to have been withdrawn or ruled by the returning officer as being invalid) be referred to on any ballot paper, notice or other document by reference to such letter or letters. (
- b)An assignment by the returning officer under this subsection shall not form a ground on which an Assembly election may be questioned. Delivery and withdrawal of replacement candidates' list, etc. 5.—
- a)of this Act, the officer or, as may be appropriate, any of the officers, by whom the list was signed or any person who is as regards the Assembly election concerned a candidate of the party to which the list relates, (
- b)in case the list is signed by a person who is a non-party candidate at such election, that person or his proposer.
- a)Where the returning officer is of the opinion that a replacement candidates' list is not properly made out or signed, if the list is not amended to his satisfaction, he shall rule it as being invalid. (
- b)A decision under this subsection shall be final. (
- c)As soon as may be after the receipt by him at an Assembly election of a replacement candidates' list which he does not rule as being invalid the returning officer shall— (
- i)cause to be displayed outside the place at which he is receiving nominations a notice referring to the list and stating the names and addresses of the replacement candidates nominated by entry thereon and in the order in which they appear on the list, (
- ii)give, by post or otherwise, notice in writing of such receipt to the person or persons by whom the list was signed, and to each replacement candidate nominated by entry thereon and a notice given pursuant to this subparagraph to a replacement candidate shall refer to the relevant replacement candidates' list and contain the names of the replacement candidates nominated by entry, and in the order in which they appear, thereon. (
- d)As soon as may be after the time specified in Rule 12
- a)of this Act, the returning officer shall delete from the list the number of names equal to the excess commencing with the name which stands at the bottom of the list and if need be there- after working up that list, (
- ii)in case the returning officer deletes a name from a replacement candidates' list he shall, as soon as may be, give, by post or otherwise, to the person whose name has been deleted and to the person or, as may be appropriate, each of the persons, by whom the list was signed, notice in writing of the deletion.
- a)A replacement candidates' list may be withdrawn by notice in writing signed by— (
- i)in case the list is a replacement candidates' list referred to in section 4
- a)of this Act, the person who is or, as may be appropriate, the persons who are for the time being the officer or officers referred to in that section, or (
- ii)in case the list is a replacement candidates' list referred to in section 4
- b)of this Act, the non-party candidate by whom it was signed, and delivered to the returning officer not later than 12 noon on the latest date for receiving nominations. (
- b)A notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)of this subsection may be delivered to the returning officer by being given to him by— (
- i)in case the notice relates to a replacement candidates' list referred to in section 4
- a)of this Act, (I) the officer or, as may be appropriate, any of the officers, by whom it was signed, or (II) any person who is as regards the Assembly election concerned a candidate of the party to which the list relates, (
- ii)in case the notice relates to a replacement candidates' list referred to in section 4
- b)of this Act, the non-party candidate by whom the list was signed or his proposer. (
- c)The returning officer shall, immediately on the delivery to him of a notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)of this subsection, give public notice of the withdrawal concerned.
- a)in case such list was presented by a registered political party, at the latest time for withdrawal of candidature under Rule 12 of the First Schedule to the Principal Act no candidate of that party stands nominated, or (
- b)in case such list was presented by a non-party candidate and the candidature of that candidate is, or pursuant to either section 10 of the Principal Act or Rule 20 of the said First Schedule is deemed to have been, withdrawn. the replacement candidates' list shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
- d)(
- i)of this section shall form a ground on which an Assembly election may be questioned. Casual vacancies. 6.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 15: “15.—
- a)In case the relevant representative elected under this Act at the last preceding Assembly election was at that election a candidate of a registered political party which as regards that election presented a replacement candidates' list (not being a list which is withdrawn or ruled by the returning officer as being invalid)— (
- i)the person (if any) whose name, having regard to subsection
- b)In case the relevant representative elected under this Act at such election was at such election a non-party candidate who presented a replacement candidates' list (not being a list which is withdrawn or ruled by the returning officer as being invalid), (
- i)the person (if any) whose name, having regard to subsection
- c)In case— (
- i)the relevant representative so elected to the Assembly at such election was not a candidate described in either paragraph (
- a)or (
- b)of this subsection, or (
- ii)having regard to the provisions of this section, in relation to the vacancy no name stands first or alone on the relevant replacement candidates' list, or (iii) a requirement made by the Clerk of Dáil Éireann stands not complied with on the expiration of the period of thirty days beginning on the date of the requirement, Dáil Éireann may select a person whose name is on any replacement candidates' list (being a list of which public notice was given pursuant to Rule 21 (as 45 amended by section 7 of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984) of the First Schedule to this Act), or, as may be appropriate, the sole such list, presented at the last-preceding Assembly election, and in case Dáil Éireann makes a selection under this paragraph it shall by resolution specify the person so selected.
- a)the name of any person who— (
- i)is for the time being— (I) a representative in the Assembly, or (II) not eligible for election under this Act to the Assembly, or (III) a person who, by virtue of any provision laid down under any or all of the treaties, is not entitled to assume the office of representative in the Assembly, or (
- ii)is not willing to accept office as such a representative, shall be disregarded; (
- b)in making such an ascertainment, in case the relevant representative elected under this Act to the Assembly at the last preceding Assembly election was at that election a candidate of a registered political party, the name of any person who is not for the time being a member of such party shall be disregarded.
- a)cause a copy of the notification to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and (
- b)cause to be published in the Iris Oifigiúil a notice of the notification.
- a)or (
- b)of subsection
- a)a vacancy occasioned by a person who though elected or regarded as having been elected to the Assembly pursuant to the European Assembly Elections Acts, 1977 and 1984, is, by virtue of any provision laid down under any or all of the treaties, not entitled to assume the office of representative in the Assembly, or (
- b)a vacancy occasioned by a person having ceased to be a representative in the Assembly otherwise than by the effluxion of time or in consequence of the making of an order under section 17 of this Act by the High Court.”. Amendment of First Schedule to Principal Act. 7.—The First Schedule to the Principal Act is hereby amended by— (
- a)the substitution of “forty-eight hours before the latest time for receiving nominations under Rule 7” for “seventy-two hours before the latest time for the withdrawal of candidature under Rule 12” in both paragraph
- b)the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraphs (a), (
- b)and (
- c)of Rule 20
- a)his death shall not invalidate his nomination or any preference recorded for him, and (
- b)if he is elected— (
- i)his election shall not be invalidated by reason of his death and he shall be deemed to have been elected to membership of the Assembly by virtue of this Act and to have resigned his office immediately after having so become such a representative, and (
- ii)section 15 of this Act shall apply as regards the resultant vacancy in the Assembly.”; (
- c)the substitution of the following paragraphs for paragraphs (
- b)and (
- c)of Rule 21: “(
- b)the names and descriptions of the candidates standing nominated as entered in their nomination papers and of the proposers, if any, (
- c)any replacement candidates' list duly presented at the election (being such a list which is not withdrawn, deemed under the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984, to have been withdrawn or ruled by the returning officer as being invalid) and the name of the registered political party or non-party candidate by whom such list was presented together with the name and address or names and addresses of any person or persons nominated by entry thereon to be replacement candidates as entered on such list and, if there is more than one, in the same order as that in which they appear on such list, and (
- d)the order in which the names of the said candidates will appear on the ballot papers.”; (
- d)the insertion of the following subparagraph after subparagraph (
- b)of Rule 22
- a)of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984) to that list,”; (
- e)the insertion of the following subparagraph after subparagraph (
- c)of Rule 22
- a)of the European Assembly Election Act, 1984) to that list,”; (
- f)the insertion of the following Rule after Rule 51: “Verification of ballot paper accounts. 51A.
- a)open each ballot box and count the number of ballot papers found therein and compare the total number of papers ascertained with the number shown in the appropriate ballot paper account, (
- b)prepare a statement showing the result of the comparison under subparagraph (
- a)of this paragraph in respect of all the ballot papers for the country or country borough for which he is the local returning officer, (
- c)open the ballot box in which the postal ballot papers were placed pursuant to the requirements of Rule 50 of this Schedule and count and record the number of such ballot papers, (
- d)make up in separate packets the ballot papers found in each ballot box (including postal ballot papers), endorse on each such packet the number of ballot papers contained therein and particulars of the polling station to which they relate (or, where appropriate, that they are postal ballot papers) and place the packets in boxes which he shall seal and on each of which he shall endorse the number of packets contained therein and the name of the country or county borough for which he is the local returning officer, and (
- e)forthwith deliver to the returning officer for the constituency all such boxes together with— (
- i)the statement referred to in subparagraph (
- b)of this paragraph, and (
- ii)a statement of the number of postal ballot papers recorded under subparagraph (
- c)of this paragraph.
- i)the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraphs (
- c)and (
- d)of Rule 69
- d)the candidates' nomination papers, whether valid or invalid, any certificates of political affiliation and any replacement candidates' lists, whether valid or invalid,”; (
- j)the insertion in Rule 69
- a)of the following subparagraph: “(
- aa)the ballot paper accounts,”; (
- k)the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph
- a)nominate another person for election under this Act to be a representative in the Assembly, or (
- b)withdraw the candidature of another person for such election, or (
- c)nominate a person as a replacement candidate under the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984. save with the consent of that person.”; and (
- l)the insertion of the following Rule after Rule 81: “False declaration on replacement candidates' list. 81A.
- a)to be eligible for nomination under the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984, as a replacement candidate, and (
- b)that none of such persons stands validly nominated as a replacement candidate in respect of any other constituency, then if any person whose name so appears, (
- c)is not eligible for such nomination, or (
- d)stands validly so nominated in respect of any other constituency, the person by whom the declaration is made shall be guilty of an offence.
- a)the returning officer shall notify the Minister and the chief returning officer of the death of the candidate and at the same time, if notice of the poll has been given, he shall countermand the poll, (
- b)the returning officer shall give public notice that all acts done in connection with the election (other than the nomination of the surviving candidates) are void and that a fresh election will be held, (
- c)all the proceedings for the election shall be commenced afresh, but a fresh nomination shall not be necessary in respect of any candidate who stood nominated at the time when notification of the death of the candidate was sent to the Minister, (
- d)at the fresh election the earliest time for receiving nominations shall be 10 a.m. on the day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the date of the public notice referred to in subparagraph (
- b)of this paragraph and the latest time for receiving nominations shall be 12 noon on the third day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the said date, (
- e)the polling day at the fresh election shall be fixed by the Minister, (
- f)Rule 3 of this Schedule shall not apply in relation to the fresh election and references to the Register of Political Parties contained in Rule 4 of this Schedule shall, in relation to the fresh election, be construed as references to the copy of that Register sent to the returning officer in relation to the countermanded election. 2.