Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage

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

The maintenance of the register of political parties is currently the responsibility of the Clerk of the Dáil. As regards the register being available for inspection, the current legislation, that is, section 25C(2) of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 11 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, only requires that the register be made available for inspection at the registrar’s office. The current practice is that the registrar regularly publishes it on the Oireachtas website. When bringing existing electoral functions over to the commission in the Bill, I have taken the general approach of endeavouring to bring them over intact. In this instance, I removed the stipulation under the 1992 Act that the register be made available for inspection at the offices of the registrar. The text in section 51 is more general, such that it does not contain an implication that the register is a physical document that must be inspected at the registrar’s office.

In respect of the amendment, while I support transparency in terms of how political parties are governed, I am conscious of the burdens on the commission in getting established and building up experience and organisational capacity. I have referenced that previously. On balance, I am of the view that this is not the time to make changes to the content of the register and I am rejecting the amendment. I point out, however, that it is intended to legislate to assign more functions to the commission soon after its establishment. It may be the case that the Deputy’s suggestion could be considered at that time.

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