Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 3 of Referendum Act 1998

3. Section 3 of the Referendum Act 1998 is amended by the substitution of the following for subsection (1):

"(1) The Commission shall have, in addition to any functions conferred on it by any other provision of this Act, the following principal functions in relation to the referendum in respect of which it is established:

(a) to prepare statements containing a general explanation of the subject matter of the proposal and of the text thereof in the relevant Act and any other information relating to those matters that the Commission considers appropriate;

(b) to prepare statements that are as far as practicable accessible to persons with a disability;

(c) to publish and distribute those statements in such manner and by such means including the use of television, radio and other electronic media as the Commission considers most likely to bring them to the attention of the electorate and to ensure as far as practicable that the means employed enable those with a sight or hearing disability to read or hear the statements concerned;

(d) to promote public awareness of the referendum and encourage the electorate to vote at the poll.".".

The aim of the amendment is to insert a new subsection into section 3 of the Referendum Act 1998. We have discussed the need to make information on referenda properly accessible to people with disabilities. As such, it is important to integrate provisions in this regard in the Act to give the Referendum Commission a mandate to ensure that occurs. The amendment proposes to include in section 3 a requirement to publish statements that are as far as practicable accessible to persons with a disability, to publish and distribute those statements to various media and to promote public awareness of a referendum and encourage the electorate to vote at the poll. It adds to what is there. In the spirit of disability reform, it is important to ensure information is put out there in an accessible way and to provide the commission with a positive mandate to ensure it reaches everyone. The commission should be required to go that extra yard to communicate that information to those who may not currently receive it. It is a simple amendment and one which is in keeping with the spirit of the Bill. I hope the Minister of State will support it.