126. (1) A notice placed or displayed on an online platform by the persons specified in subsection (2) for the purpose, and in the course, of performing their statutory functions under the enactments specified in subsection (3) shall not be construed as being an “online political advertisement” for the purposes of this Part.

(2) The following persons are specified for the purposes of subsection (1):

(a) the Minister;

(b) the Commission;

(c) a returning officer (within the meaning of section 30 of the Act of 1992);

(d) the presidential returning officer and a local returning officer (within the meaning of sections 9 and 10, respectively, of the Act of 1993);

(e) the referendum returning officer and a local returning officer (within the meaning of sections 14 and 15, respectively, of the Act of 1994);

(f) the chief returning officer, a returning officer and a local returning officer (within the meaning of sections 15A, 16 and 17, respectively, of the Act of 1997);

(g) a returning officer (within the meaning of section 14 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937);

(h) the Seanad returning officer (within the meaning of section 4 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947);

(i) a returning officer (within the meaning of Article 4 of the Local Elections Regulations 1995);

(j) a local authority.

(3) The enactments specified for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) are:

(a) the Electoral Acts 1992 to 2022;

(b) the European Parliament Elections Act 1992 to 2022;

(c) the Presidential Elections Acts 1992 to 2006;

(d) the Referendum Acts 1922 to 2022;

(e) the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Acts 1947 to 2018;

(f) the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Acts 1937 to 2015;

(g) the Local Elections Regulations 1995.