Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I share the concern of the Deputies who have tabled the amendment that information provided to voters in a referendum should be accessible and easy to understand. However, this concern is addressed through current practices. In line with its existing duties under the Referendum Act 1998, the Referendum Commission prepares and provides information on referenda for persons with disabilities, including in easy-to-read format for people with intellectual disabilities. It is important to note that. Given that the commission is doing this work, which has become standard practice, I do not consider it necessary to amend the Act.

There are further technical issues with the proposed amendment. The amendment proposes the deletion from section 3(1)(a) of the Act of the words "one or more" after "prepare" so that the section provides that the commission shall prepare statements. This means the commission would be forced to prepare multiple statements when it might not be appropriate or necessary to do so.

The important issue is that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government commenced a public consultation process recently on the regulatory impact assessment relating to the establishment of an electoral commission. The assessment sets out a number of options for establishing a commission, including the functions that might be assigned to it. Following any Government decision on a preferred option for the establishment of an electoral commission, work will commence on the drafting of an electoral commission Bill. That Bill would be the appropriate mechanism through which to provide for people with disabilities in respect of electoral matters. I understand the aim of Deputies in proposing the amendment and support the principles raised by them. We need to get more people with disabilities in politics, whether in local or national government or in the Seanad, to advocate directly on their particular issues. However, the Deputies will understand the reasons I cannot support the amendment.