AN independent panel reviewing the issue of election funding in the Island wants to hear from the public.

The panel, appointed by the governance committee of the Council of Ministers, is examining the appropriateness of the current rules and transparency of process in the following areas:

Party funding, third party funding, candidate funding, limits on campaign spending (to take into account differing constituency sizes), use of loans, donations, gifts, writing off debts, 'in kind' benefits within candidate election funding and the appropriate period of the election window in which rules would be enforced.

The independent review panel will not be examining any of the following areas as they are outside of its remit:

Specific events which occurred in connection with the May 2010 Douglas East by-election, the process concerning absent and proxy votes, the electoral registration process and levels of election turn out by voters.

The panel - comprising Sir Miles Walker, Michael Moyle and Seth Caine - will be conducting its review in a tight timescale over the coming weeks.

It will make a written report on its findings, conclusions and any recommendations for the consideration of the governance committee in early September.
 
Views should be sent by email to Kirsty.Hemsley@gov.im or by post to Kirsty Hemsley, senior policy and research officer, Chief Secretary’s Office, Government Offices, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PN.

The deadline for views is Friday, August 13.