European elections cost politicians €4m
Four million euro was spent by the 44 candidates and seven political parties in June's European elections.
The seven political parties spent €3.6m in the run up to the vote.
The 16 independent candidates spent €318,000, while groups unconnected to a party or candidate spent €57,000.
Fianna Fáil spent a total €1.29m. Next was Fine Gael on €1.13m. Labour spent €715,000, Sinn Féin €313,000, while the Greens spent €199,000.
The highest individual spend was by Fine Gael candidate Mairéad McGuiness, who spent €225,000, followed by Gay Mitchell, also of Fine Gael, on €223,000.
The highest spend by an independent candidate was €87,000 by Marian Harkin.
Figures released by the Standards in Public Office Commission today also show that €1m will be paid by the Revenue to 27 candidates who qualify for reimbursement of expenses.
