74. (1) Not less than 4 days before the polling day, the local returning officer shall give each candidate notice in writing of the day, time and place at which the officer will open the ballot boxes pursuant to rule 75 and of the number of agents each candidate may appoint to be present at the opening.

(2) The local returning officer, the assistants and clerks of the local returning officer, members of the Garda Síochána on duty and the agents of the candidates duly appointed for this purpose and no other person, except with the permission of the local returning officer, may be present at the proceedings referred to in this Part.

(3) The local returning officer shall give the agents of the candidates such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings at the opening of the boxes and the verification of the ballot paper accounts and all information with respect thereto which the officer can give them consistent with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the performance of his or her functions.