John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I confirm that I am in Leinster House. It is easy to say that this is the most important legislation that will come before the committee, but I believe that it is because having a secure, comprehensive and accurate electoral register is fundamental to democracy and that without it, we are at nothing. The current register is wholly inadequate. I have beside me a portion of the 120 letters that were returned to me by An Post, marked "Gone away", "Not known at this address" or "Deceased" for a section of my constituency in west Waterford when I sent a circular and a piece of information. That is unacceptable. It says that something is seriously wrong with the register. I do not believe that it can be fixed without utilising PPS numbers. That comes back to the point on which Deputy McAuliffe asked Mr. Sunderland whether the Data Protection Commission has a view. In 2008, the then commissioner gave evidence to the equivalent of our committee and said that in order to overcome legal obstacles to using PPS numbers or other data held by State agencies to identify electors, the Oireachtas could either seek voluntary consent of electors to use PPS numbers or other data from State agencies for the purpose of compiling the electoral register or legislate to overrule the right of privacy in the interests of the common good, that is, in the interests of enhancing the integrity of the register of electors. My question is whether that is still the view of the Data Protection Commission. I believe having an accurate register with integrity is essential to democracy and it must include the use of PPS numbers. I would appreciate comments on that.

Regarding the transparency provisions raised by Ms Carolan, does she share the view that it is essential that we introduce a system whereby advertising spend on behalf of parties or individuals by others on platforms like Facebook is accounted for on the account of the individual or party? If I go into the Facebook ad library at the moment, if somebody was spending money on my behalf that does not show on my account. It is on the account of some unknown individual who has placed ads on my behalf. Is it her view that it is essential in this legislation and in other legislation that in looking at the transparency period, those individuals are identified, and that the advertising spend is tagged on to the individual or the party in question?