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42 1947

SEANAD ELECTORAL (PANEL MEMBERS) ACT, 1947

Chapter II.

Formation of the Panels.

Nomination to panels by members of Oireachtas.

25. —(1) At a Seanad general election, any person may be nominated in accordance with this Act by not less than four members of the Oireachtas to any of the panels constituted for that election.

(2) A member of the Oireachtas shall not join in the nomination under this section of more than one person at any particular Seanad general election.

Proposals for nominations to panel by registered nominating bodies.

26. —(1) At a Seanad general election, a nominating body which is registered in the register of nominating bodies in respect of a particular panel shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel such number of persons as is provided in that behalf by this section.

(2) Where one nominating body, and no more, is entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, that body shall be entitled to so propose—

(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—three persons,

(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—eleven persons,

(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—nine persons,

(d) in the case of the administrative panel—five persons.

(3) Where two nominating bodies, and no more, are entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, each shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel—

(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—two persons,

(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—six persons,

(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—five persons,

(d) in the case of the administrative panel—three persons.

(4) Where three or more nominating bodies are entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, each shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel—

(a) if the number obtained by dividing the appropriate number by the number of the nominating bodies is two or less—two persons, and

(b) if the number so obtained is more than two—the number so obtained of persons if it is a whole number or, if it is not a whole number, the next higher whole number of persons.

(5) in subsection (4) of this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means—

(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—ten,

(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—eighteen,

(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—sixteen,

(d) in the case of the administrative panel—twelve.

Method of proposal for nomination by nominating body.

27. —(1) Within ten days after a dissolution of Dáil Éireann, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every nominating body registered in the register of nominating bodies a form of proposal for nomination paper and also a notice in the prescribed form informing the body of its right to propose persons for nomination to a specified panel and of the number of persons which it is entitled so to propose and giving to the body such information and instructions in relation to the making of the proposals for nomination as the Minister thinks proper to prescribe.

(2) A proposal for nomination to a panel by a nominating body shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—

(a) the proposal shall be made in writing on a proposal for nomination paper in the prescribed form;

(b) the nominating body shall propose by one and the same proposal for nomination paper all the persons which it is entitled to propose;

(c) the proposal for nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of proposal for nomination paper to be stated therein (including a statement of the qualifications of every person thereby proposed for the panel to which he is proposed) and shall be signed by the nominating body;

(d) where the nominating body is a body corporate, the proposal for nomination paper shall be signed by the body by affixing to such paper the seal of the body in the manner and with the counter signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of the body;

(e) where the nominating body is not a body corporate, the proposal for nomination paper shall be signed in the name of the body by some person having authority to sign in that name.

(3) In the case of the Irish County Councils' General Council and in the case of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, the persons to be proposed for nomination to the administrative panel by those bodies respectively shall be chosen by the members of the body voting on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

(4) A proposal for nomination paper which purports to be sealed with the seal of a body corporate which is a nominating body and to be countersigned shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so sealed in the manner and with the counter-signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of the body.

(5) A proposal for nomination paper which purports to be signed in the name of an unincorporated body which is a nominating body shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so signed by a person having authority to sign in that name.

(6) Where a nominating body purports to propose for nomination by a proposal for nomination paper either more persons or less persons to a panel than the body is entitled so to propose, the proposal for nomination paper shall be wholly void.

(7) The Seanad returning officer shall furnish free of charge on request to a nominating body such number of forms of proposal for nomination paper (in addition to the form which he is required by subsection (1) of this section to send to the body) as the body reasonably requires.

Preparation of nominating bodies lists.

28. —(1) A proposal for nomination paper by which a person or persons is or are proposed for nomination at a Seanad general election by a nominating body shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer.

(2) Immediately after the expiration of the time for general panel proposal nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of each panel, a list (in this Act referred to as a nominating bodies list) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received, before the expiration of the said time, proposals for nominations to such panel by nominating bodies.

(3) If, when the provisions of subsection (2) of this section have been complied with, the number of persons included in a nominating bodies list does not equal or exceed the appropriate number, the Seanad returning officer shall report to the Taoiseach the deficiency in such list and furnish him with copies of the nominating bodies lists.

(4) Upon receiving a report under subsection (3) of this section, the Taoiseach shall propose for nomination to every panel in respect of which he receives the report such number of persons as will be sufficient to bring the number of persons on the relevant nominating bodies list up to the appropriate number (and no more).

(5) A proposal for nomination made by the Taoiseach under this section shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—

(a) the proposal for nomination shall be made in writing on a proposal for nomination paper in the prescribed form;

(b) the proposal for nomination shall be made by a separate proposal for nomination paper;

(c) the proposal for nomination paper shall state the sub-panel in respect of which the proposal is made and shall also contain the particulars required by the said prescribed form of proposal for nomination paper (including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby proposed for the panel to which he is so proposed) and shall be signed by the Taoiseach;

(d) the proposal for nomination paper shall be delivered or sent to the Seanad returning officer and shall be so sent or delivered that it is received by him within ten days after the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations.

(6) On receipt of proposals for nominations under subsection (4) of this section in respect of a panel, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of the panel, a list (in this Act also referred to as a nominating bodies list) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received proposals for nominations to such panel by nominating bodies or the Taoiseach and such list shall have effect in substitution for the previous nominating bodies list in respect of the panel.

(7) In preparing the nominating bodies lists, the Seanad returning officer shall not—

(a) include the name of a person whose proposal for nomination has been received after the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations,

(b) include the name of a person whose proposal for nomination is declared by this Act to be wholly void, or

(c) include the name of a person more than once in the same list.

(8) In this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means—

(a) if one nominating body, and no more, or two nominating bodies, and no more, is or are entitled to propose for nomination to the relevant panel—

(i) in case such panel is the cultural and educational panel—six,

(ii) in case such panel is the agricultural or the labour panel—fourteen,

(iii) in case such panel is the industrial and commercial panel—twelve,

(iv) in case such panel is the administrative panel—eight,

(b) if three or more nominating bodies are entitled to propose for nomination to the relevant panel—

(i) in case such panel is the cultural and educational panel—ten,

(ii) in case such panel is the agricultural or the labour panel—eighteen,

(iii) in case such panel is the industrial and commercial panel—sixteen,

(iv) in case such panel is the administrative panel — twelve.

Method of nomination by members of Oireachtas.

29. —(1) A nomination at a Seanad general election by members of the Oireachtas shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) the nomination shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;

(b) the nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein, including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated;

(c) the nomination paper shall be signed by each of the members of the Oireachtas making a nomination thereby;

(d) the nomination paper shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer.

(2) If a member of the Oireachtas signs as a nominator two or more nomination papers, both or all of the nomination papers shall be wholly void.

Preparation of provisional Oireachtas sub-panels.

30. —(1) Immediately after the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of each panel, a list (in this Act referred to as a provisional Oireachtas sub-panel) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received, before the expiration of the said time, nominations to such panel by members of the Oireachtas.

(2) In preparing the provisional Oireachtas sub-panels, the Seanad returning officer shall not:—

(a) include the name of a person whose nomination has been received after the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations,

(b) include the name of a person whose nomination is declared by this Act to be wholly void, or

(c) include the name of a person more than once in the same sub-panel.

Publication and inspection of proposal for nomination papers and nomination papers.

31. —Where the Seanad returning officer receives a proposal for nomination paper or a nomination paper at a Seanad general election (other than a paper declared by this Act to be wholly void or a paper so received after the time limited by this Act for such receipt)—

(a) the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith post up, in such public place in the county borough of Dublin as he considers most suitable, a notice stating the fact of the receipt by him of the paper and the name, address and description (as stated in the paper) of the person purported to be proposed or nominated by the paper and the panel to which such person purports to be so proposed or nominated,

(b) the Seanad returning officer shall hold the paper available for inspection by candidates between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m on week-days during the period beginning on the day after the day of the receipt of the paper and ending on the day before the day of the completion or resumption of the completion (as may be appropriate) of the panels.

Nomination committee (general election) meeting.

32. —A meeting (in this Act referred to as a nomination committee (general election) meeting) of the nomination committee for a panel for which there are three or more nominating bodies shall be held on the day and at the place and hour appointed in that behalf by a Seanad general election order and, at least seven days before the meeting, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post, to each person named in the electoral roll constituted under section 33 of this Act for the meeting, a notice in the prescribed form with respect to the holding of the meeting.

Electoral roll for nomination committee (general election) meeting.

33. —(1) Where a nomination committee (general election) meeting is to be held, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, from the register under section 21 of this Act, a list stating the names, addresses and description of the members of the nomination committee and the list shall be the electoral roll for the purposes of the meeting and shall be final and conclusive.

(2) The several persons named in the electoral roll constituted under this section for a nomination committee (general election) meeting (and no other person) shall be entitled to vote at the poll at the meeting.

(3) The death of a person named in an electoral roll constituted under this section shall not prejudice or affect the validity or operation of the electoral roll.

Procedure at a nomination committee (general election) meeting.

34. —(1) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every nomination committee (general election) meeting:—

(a) the Seanad returning officer shall preside at the meeting and shall conduct the proceedings thereof;

(b) the proceedings shall commence at the time appointed for the meeting by the relevant Seanad general election order if there is then a quorum or, if there is not then a quorum, when there is a quorum;

(c) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the persons named in the electoral roll constituted for the meeting under section 33 of this Act, and no other person, may be present at the meeting;

(d) each member of the nomination committee attending the meeting shall, when or as soon as may be after he enters the meeting, sign his name in a book or other record (to be provided and kept by the Seanad returning officer) of attendances;

(e) a poll shall be held for the purpose of selecting, from the persons included in the nominating bodies list in respect of the relevant panel, the appropriate number of persons to be included in the provisional nominating bodies sub-panel in respect of that panel;

(f) for the purposes of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall make available such ballot boxes, desks, and other furniture as he considers necessary and also provide a sufficient number of ballot papers;

(g) the Seanad returning officer shall close the poll at the expiration of two hours from the time at which it was opened;

(h) a person shall not be entitled to receive a ballot paper unless or until he has signed his name under paragraph (d) of this subsection;

(i) a person in giving his vote must place on the ballot paper the figure 1 opposite the name of the person for whom he votes, and he may in addition place on the ballot paper the figures 2 and 3, or 2, 3 and 4, and so on opposite the names of other persons in the order of his preference.

(j) any ballot paper—

(i) in which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference, or

(ii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite more than one name, or

(iii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference and some other number is set opposite a name,

shall be invalid and shall not be counted;

(k) the Seanad returning officer shall take all such steps as he considers proper or expedient for preserving the secrecy of the voting at the poll;

(l) every question which arises at or in relation to the taking of the poll shall be decided by the Seanad returning officer and his decision on any such question shall be final and unappealable;

(m) at the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall ascertain, in accordance with this Act and, in particular, the rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, the result of the poll and shall announce such result to the candidates then present (if any);

(n) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the candidates (or their duly appointed representatives), and no other person, shall be entitled to be present at the ascertainment of the result of the poll.

(2) In subsection (1) of this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means:—

(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—six,

(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—fourteen,

(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—twelve,

(d) in the case of the administrative panel—eight.

Preparation of provisional nominating bodies sub-panels.

35. —(1) The Seanad returning officer shall, as soon as conveniently may be after a nomination committee (general election) meeting, prepare a list (in this Act referred to as a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel) in the prescribed form of the persons selected at such meeting.

(2) Where there is one nominating body, and no more, or there are two nominating bodies, and no more, for a panel, the Seanad returning officer shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the preparation under subsection (6) of section 28 of this Act of a nominating bodies list in respect of the panel, prepare a list (in this Act also referred to as a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel) of the persons included in such nominating bodies list.

The completion of the panels.

36. —(1) At eleven o'clock in the morning on the day and at the place appointed in that behalf by a Seanad general election order, the Seanad returning officer shall attend and hold a sitting (in this Act referred to as the completion of the panels) at which he shall do all such things as he is required by the subsequent provisions of this Act to do at such sitting.

(2) At the completion of the panels, the Seanad returning officer shall proceed as follows:—

(a) he shall group the provisional Oireachtas sub-panels and the provisional nominating bodies sub-panels into five groups, each group consisting of a provisional Oireachtas sub-panel and a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel in respect of the same panel;

(b) as respects each of the groups of sub-panels—

(i) he shall examine each nomination paper in pursuance of which a person was entered in either sub-panel, shall rule upon the validity or invalidity of each nomination paper and the validity or invalidity of the nomination purported to be made thereby and shall delete from the sub-panels every entry made therein in pursuance of a nomination paper or a nomination which he decides to be invalid,

(ii) he shall examine the qualifications of each person whose name remains on the sub-panels after the said deletions and shall delete from the sub-panels the name of every person in respect of whom he is not satisfied that such person is qualified under subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution to be on the panel to which the sub-panels relate,

(iii) he shall, in respect of every person whom he determines to be qualified to be on such panel, enter in the relevant sub-panel a statement, in such form as he thinks proper, of the qualifications which he determines to be in fact the qualification of such person to be on such panel,

(iv) he shall then delete all duplicate entries remaining on the sub-panels and shall for that purpose give preference to a nomination by a nominating body;

(c) if, when the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection have been complied with, any person is found to be entered in two or more groups of sub-panels—

(i) the Seanad returning officer shall retain the name of such person on such one of the groups as such person or his agent elects,

(ii) if such person or his agent (as the case may be) refuses or fails to elect or neither such person nor his agent is present or reasonably available, the Seanad returning officer shall retain the name of such person in such one of the groups of sub-panels as the Seanad returning officer determines by lot,

(iii) the Seanad returning officer shall delete the name of such person from all the groups of sub-panels except that on which he is required, by whichever of the foregoing subparagraphs of this paragraph is applicable, to retain the name of such person.

(3) In carrying out the provisions of this Act in relation to the proceedings at the completion of the panels, the Seanad returning officer shall have due regard to all decisions of the judicial referee on questions referred to him under this Act by the Seanad returning officer.

(4) A decison by the Seanad returning officer at the completion of the panels shall be final and conclusive subject only to such reference to the judicial referee as is provided for by this Act.

Nominations by the Taoiseach to complete provisional sub-panels.

37. —(1) If, when the provisions of section 36 of this Act, have been complied with, the number of persons whose names are entered in any provisional sub-panel does not exceed by at least two the maximum number of members of Seanad Éireann permitted by this Act to be elected therefrom, the Seanad returning officer shall adjourn to a convenient day and hour the further proceedings at the completion of the panels and shall report to the Taoiseach the deficiency in the said provisional sub-panel and furnish to the Taoiseach a copy of the provisional sub-panels as settled immediately before the adjournment.

(2) Upon receiving a report under subsection (1) of this section, the Taoiseach shall nominate to every provisional sub-panel in respect of which he receives the report such number of persons as will be sufficient to bring the number of persons on the provisional sub-panel up to a number exceeding by two (and no more) the maximum number of members of Seanad Éireann permitted by this Act to be elected therefrom.

(3) Where the Taoiseach is required by subsection (2) of this section to make nominations to a provisional sub-panel, it shall be lawful for him to make additional nominations to such provisional sub-panel in excess of the number of nominations required by that subsection, but the additional nominations shall be substitutional only and shall be operative only if and so far as is requisite by reason of the invalidity of one or more of the other nominations made by the Taoiseach under this section to such provisional sub-panel.

(4) A nomination made by the Taoiseach under this section shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—

(a) the nomination shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;

(b) the nomination shall be made by a separate nomination paper;

(c) the nomination paper shall state the sub-panel in respect of which the nomination is made and shall also contain the particulars required by the said prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein (including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated) and shall be signed by the Taoiseach;

(d) the nomination paper shall be delivered or sent to the Seanad returning officer and shall be so sent or delivered that it is received by the Seanad returning officer before the time to which the completion of the panels was adjourned under subsection (1) of this section.

(5) On the resumption of the completion of the panels after the adjournment thereof under subsection (1) of this section, the Seanad returning officer shall consider and rule upon the nominations made by the Taoiseach under this section (including examining and ruling upon the qualifications of every person so nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated) and shall enter in the proper place in the proper provisional sub-panel the name, address, and description of every person whom he finds to be validly so nominated, together with a statement, in such form as he thinks proper, of the qualifications which he determines to be in fact the qualifications of such person to be on such panel.

The judicial referee at completion of panels.

38. —(1) The President of the High Court or some other judge of the High Court nominated by him shall attend at the completion of the panels and there sit and act as judicial referee.

(2) The Seanad returning officer may, on his own motion, and shall, if so requested by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person, refer to the judicial referee any question arising during the completion of the panels in relation to any nomination paper, the nomination of any person to a panel, the qualifications of any person for a panel, the statement by the Seanad returning officer of such qualification, or any other matter connected with the provisional panels.

(3) The judicial referee shall there and then decide and announce his decision on every question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer.

(4) The decision of the judicial referee on any question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court.

(5) A question may be referred to the judicial referee under this section whether the Seanad returning officer has or has not himself given a decision thereon.

Questions which may be raised at completion of panels.

39. —(1) Subject to compliance (where appropriate) with subsection (2) of this section, at the completion of the panels every question relevant to the nomination of a person to a panel, including the validity of nomination papers, the sufficiency or the correctness of any statement in a nomination paper, the validity or the disqualification of any nomination and the qualifications of any person for any panel, may be raised by the Seanad returning officer or by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person.

(2) Where a person other than the Seanad returning officer proposes to raise a question at the completion of the panels, he shall deliver a statement of the question and of the grounds therefor to the Seanad returning officer at least two days before the day of the completion of the panels.

(3) Where the identity of the person purported to be nominated by a nomination paper is free from doubt, the nomination paper shall not be rejected or declared invalid merely because of an error in, or the incompleteness of, the statement therein of the name, address or description of such person.

(4) The Seanad returning officer may, for the purpose of deciding any question at issue during the completion of the panels, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question, and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.

(5) The judicial referee may, for the purpose of deciding any question referred to him during the completion of the panels, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question (being, save where the judicial referee otherwise allows, evidence which was made available to the Seanad returning officer), and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.

Persons permitted to attend completion of panels.

40. —The following (and no other) persons shall be entitled to be present at the completion of the panels:—

(a) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants;

(b) the judicial referee and one person brought by him to attend on him;

(c) any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel;

(d) one agent of each person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel;

(e) witnesses giving oral evidence, but only while giving such evidence;

(f) such other persons as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper to admit.

Continuity of proceedings at completion of panels.

41. —(1) The proceedings at the completion of the panels shall, so far as practicable, be proceeded with continuously, but may at any time be suspended by the Seanad returning officer, with the consent of the judicial referee, for such period as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper for refreshment, night-time or other reason appearing to him to be sufficient.

(2) Whenever the proceedings at the completion of the panels are suspended under this section, the Seanad returning officer shall take all proper precautions for the security of the nomination papers, provisional sub-panels and other relevant documents.

Death or disqualification of a candidate.

42. —(1) Where, before the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations, a nominating body satisfies the Seanad returning officer that a person proposed for nomination to a panel by the body has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel the proposal for nomination of such person, and thereupon such proposal for nomination shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act never to have been received by the Seanad returning officer and it shall be lawful for the body to propose for nomination in accordance with this Act a person to the panel in the place of the person who has died or become disqualified.

(2) Where, before the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations, the Seanad returning officer is satisfied that a person nominated to a panel by members of the Oireachtas has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel such nomination and thereupon it shall be deemed never to have been made.

(3) In the counting of the votes cast at a Seanad general election, all the preferences recorded for a candidate named in a panel of whose death (whether before or after the completion of the panel) the Seanad returning officer is satisfied before the close of the poll shall be disregarded and regard shall be had in lieu thereof to the next available preferences.

(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, the fact that a candidate named in a panel has (whether before or after the close of the poll) died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann shall not invalidate or prejudice the panel or the nomination of the candidate thereto or any preferences recorded for him, and, if he is elected, his election shall not be invalidated by reason of his having so died or become disqualified but he shall be deemed to have vacated his membership of Seanad Eireann immediately after his said election thereto.

Preparation and publication of the panels.

43. —(1) When, at the completion of the panels, the proceedings provided for in the foregoing sections of this Act have been completed, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare the five panels, each of which shall consist of a list (arranged in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this section) of the persons who have been found to be validly nominated thereto.

(2) Each of the panels shall be divided into two parts (in this Act referred to as sub-panels) one of which (in this Act referred to as the nominating bodies sub-panel) shall consist of a list of the persons nominated thereto by nominating bodies, and the other of which (in this Act referred to as the Oireachtas sub-panel) shall consist of a list of the persons nominated thereto by members of the Oireachtas.

(3) The persons named in a panel shall be described therein by their names, addresses and descriptions as stated in their respective nomination papers, and there shall be added to the description of every such person a statement of his qualifications for such panel as entered in the relevant provisional sub-panel in pursuance of the foregoing provisions of this Act.

(4) The persons named in a part of a panel shall be arranged in such part in the alphabetical order of their surnames and, in the case of identity of surnames, of their other names.

(5) When the Seanad returning officer has prepared the five panels he shall publish them in the Iris Oifigiúil.

(6) The several panels as prepared and published by the Seanad returning officer in pursuance of this section shall be final and conclusive and not open to review by any Court.