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

I thank Mr. Ryan. On the issue of posters, I absolutely take on board Deputy Ó Broin's point. These are issues I hope the commission will consider in carrying out its research and advisory function. I agree on the issue of declining electoral turnouts. Yesterday, the other four Oireachtas Members from Carlow-Kilkenny and I attended a fantastic event in Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny, on the concept of a new social contract in the wake of Covid-19. The assembly was full. It was a really useful debate by the school's politics class. We are seeing a great level of engagement, particularly at secondary school level. We now need to ensure that engagement continues throughout civic life. That includes the participation of minorities in our political processes and widespread and informed debate, discussion, discourse and publicity around the importance of our democratic structures. That would be a far more effective measure. Posters are certainly part of the paraphernalia of election campaigns but what we really need is much deeper and more meaningful engagement with the electorate on why it is important to vote and take part in referenda.

I hope the commission will play a key role informing us how to do that. I am only expressing a personal view on posters. I managed to get away without using them. That is not to say they are not an effective tool for new candidates as part of the effort of trying to get elected. I take that on board.

On the recommendations of the NPWS review, it is a matter for Government to consider. All the way through this process, we want to ensure we engage with our team at the NPWS. We are in the process of doing that. On timelines, I would hope it would be early in the new year for the next phase of it. We hope to be able to present a set of recommendations in report form to Government perhaps mid-year next year. We will come back to this committee on those recommendations.