John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and his officials. This is very exciting, progressive and timely legislation, particularly when considering holding elections during Covid-type events. I will focus on section 3 on the franchise and register of electors.

Some of the questions have already been posed but I would like to tease them out a bit. As the Chairman said at the outset, it is very progressive that we are looking at the pre-enrolment of 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds.

The section on the anonymous registration of victims of domestic abuse is an important part of the legislation, especially in light of what has been reported from the courts in recent days. The online element and the simplicity of the forms is also important.

I wish to focus on data protection matters and how we overcome them. In 2008 the then Data Protection Commissioner told the then Oireachtas committee that to overcome legal obstacles to using PPS numbers and other data held by State agencies to identify electors, the Oireachtas could either seek voluntary consent from electors to use their PPS numbers or other data from State agencies for the purposes of compiling an electoral register or it could legislate to overrule the right to privacy in the interests of the common good, that is, the interests of enhancing the integrity of the electors. Is that still the position of the Data Protection Commission, in light of the legislation that came into force in 2018?

How is it proposed that we marry the existing register with the requirement for PPS numbers, confirmation of address and Eircode details, as is contained in this legislation? To do this correctly, would we essentially have to start from scratch? Does the commission have the ability to link in with Revenue and the Department of Social Protection to confirm the 80% of electors who are currently on the register? Will there be a grace period for those who are not on the register? How exactly is it intended to marry the existing system with what is required under the new legislation?