Candidates spent almost €3m in Euro Elections

Candidates in the European elections last May spent almost €3 million in their campaigns, according to a report published by the Standards in Public Office Commission .

The highest expenditure by any candidate was €206,461, spent by Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune in the South constituency. It was within the allowable limit of €230,000.

Ms Clune was elected in the four-seat constituency, but neither of the two highest spenders in the other constituencies were elected.

They were Emer Costello of Labour in Dublin, whose campaign spent just over €202,000, and Pat The Cope Gallagher of Fianna Fáil whose campaign spending of €161,428 was highest in the Midlands North West constituency.

By comparison, some successful candidates had comparatively low expenditure. The lowest was Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, whose campaign in Midlands North West cost €38,083. Others with low spending included Sinn Féin's Liadh Ní Riada in South, at €51,620, while her colleague Lynn Boylan in Dublin spent €61,973.

Independent candidate Marian Harkin spent €73,417, while the expenditure of the third Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy was much higher than his party colleagues at €114,335.

The largest disclosure of donations was that made by Independent Senator Rónán Mullen, who received €10,500.

Figures released by the commission today also show some €275,000 was spent in the two byelections held on the same day, in Dublin West and Longford-Westmeath.

The spending limit per candidate in both constituencies was €37,650. The highest campaign expenditure incurred in Dublin West was that of Fianna Faíl’s David McGuinness, at €37,107. In Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fáil’s Aengus O’Rourke spent a little over €37,000.

The winner of the Dublin West byelection, Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party, spent €22,984 on her campaign. Gabrielle McFadden of Fine Gael who won the seat last held by her late sister Nicky, spent €28,799.