Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have spoken to the Chair on this. It is my understanding there might be a number of other sessions left within the pre-legislative scrutiny for the electoral reform Bill. I believe we should give additional consideration to this and give some time to it, and it would be important to do that within the process. I will write to the Chairman to ask that we would do that. Again, I go back to the point that the Bill is specific to the regulation of online political advertising during electoral events only, but some really good points have been raised here today in light of recent events. Further to that, we should see an enhanced role over time once the electoral commission is established and additional resources are provided to it for those other elements.

I know the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will come in on the participation of women in elections and I will be meeting with the Irish Women's Council shortly in this regard. However, there is a role for the commission also in the promotion and support of women to participate in elections. Again, in the local elections of 2019 only 24% of candidates returned were women, so it is far too low and is something we are keen to address.