Murphy against election spending increase
MINISTER Eoghan Murphy decided against increasing General Election spending limits for candidates amid concerns taxpayers would be hit with an extra bill of almost €190,000.
He was told the amount somebody could spend to get themselves elected to the Dail had not changed since 2007 despite a 7.5% increase in consumer prices. However, civil servants cautioned the potential €188,750 bill for a hike in limits might be unpalatable not least because of uncertainties over Brexit.
He was warned this could lead to “public criticism that the money could be better spent elsewhere”. A spokesman for Mr Murphy said: “In the context of the Dail elections, the minister considered the existing limits in the final quarter of last year and, having regard to the arguments both in favour and against change, decided not to vary the limits.”