Changes to Register of Political Parties See New Party Proposed and Name/Emblem Changes for Another

12 April 2024 –  The Registrar of Political Parties has today given notice of his intention to approve an application by the ‘Rabharta’ party in respect of the Local Elections, also known as ‘Rabharta (Ireland South & Dublin)’ in respect of Elections to the European Parliament to become a registered political party eligible to stand candidates in Ireland’s Local Elections across the State and to contest European Parliament Elections in the two specific constituencies of Ireland South and Dublin.

It is also proposed today by the Registrar of Political Parties to amend the registration in the Register of the Direct Democracy Ireland party to change the party name to Liberty Republic and also change their emblem.

These decisions made by the Chief Executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission, Mr. Art O’Leary, as Ireland’s Registrar of Political Parties, will become effective after a 21-day appeal period, or the outcome of any such appeal.

These formal notifications have today been published in the official Irish State gazette, Iris Oifigiúil, which also includes a further notification of a decision by the Registrar of Political Parties in respect of requests for changes to the Register related to the National Party, which have been declined.

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For further information, please contact:

Brian Dawson, Communications and Public Engagement Manager,

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission,

Brian.dawson@electoralcommission.ie / 086 0749344

Editor’s Note:

Please note that both of these proposed decisions to amend the Register of Political Parties are subject to a 21-day appeal period and so neither of these decisions will be in force for the 7 June 2024 elections.

Registered name of party: ‘Rabharta’ in respect of the Local Elections, also known as ‘Rabharta (Ireland South & Dublin)’ in respect of Elections to the European Parliament Registered party emblem:

Registered name of party:  Liberty Republic

Registered party emblem:

The registration of political parties

• The registration of political parties function held by An Coimisiún Toghcháin is set out in Chapter 6 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022.
• The Registrar of Political Parties is the chief executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Mr. Art O’Leary.
• Parties can apply to be registered as a party organised in the State to contest Dáil, European or local elections. To be registered they must meet the criteria set out in legislation.
• More information on the registration process, and the necessary application forms are available on the Commission’s website at https://www.electoralcommission.ie/what-we-do/electoral-operations/

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission

An Coimisiún Toghcháin is a statutory, independent body, established on 9 February 2023 with responsibility for a broad range of electoral functions set out in the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún is central to Ireland’s electoral system, carrying out a range of existing electoral functions, including:

• responsibility for the registration of political parties, and for the preparation and maintenance of the Register of Political Parties.
• the decision-making, oversight, secretariat and supporting services associated with explaining the subject matter of referendum proposals, the promotion of public awareness of referendums and encouragement of the electorate to vote at referendum polls.
• the conducting of reviews and making reports in relation to the constituencies for the election of members to the Dáil and the election of members to the European Parliament; and
• making reports for the Minister in relation to local electoral boundaries.

An Coimisiún is also tasked in the Electoral Reform Act with several new electoral roles, including:

• preparing research programmes and conducting research on electoral policy and procedure, and providing advice, as required, to the Minister and Government.
• promoting public awareness of, and working to increase public participation in the State’s electoral and democratic processes through education and information programmes;
• overseeing the modernised Electoral Register, making recommendations and setting standards in relation to its maintenance and updating;
• responsibility of the regulation of online paid-for political advertising, ensuring transparency in respect of online political advertisements which have been purchased to run during the period of an election or referendum campaign;
• responsibility for the investigation and monitoring of online disinformation, online misinformation and manipulative or inauthentic behaviour online during election campaign periods, as well as functions to prevent manipulative or inauthentic behaviours online.
• the preparation of ex-post reports on the administration of electoral events.

It is anticipated that the initial set of functions assigned to An Coimisiún will be expanded upon as it builds capacity and expertise.