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

I will speak first to amendments Nos. 65 and 68. I thank Deputy McAuliffe for withdrawing his amendments. I am opposing amendments Nos. 65 and 68 on the grounds that, as stated on Second Stage of the Bill on 7 April last, the Government is committed to the electoral commission, when established, undertaking a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act 1997 with a view to making recommendations to address, among other matters, the concerns raised by civil society concerning the definition of "political purposes" and its impact on the fundraising activities of certain civil society organisations. It is my belief that the proposed review could be completed within a relatively short timeframe following the electoral commission’s establishment. Furthermore, given the complex issues provided for in the Electoral Act 1997, it is considered that the carrying out of such a comprehensive review of the Act would deliver an independent, objective, clear and efficient outcome for all affected parties with regard to the entirety of the interrelated provisions in that Act. Like other Deputies, I have met representatives of the ICCL on a number of occasions to discuss the issue, as well as those of the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom more recently. There is no doubt that there is a difference of opinion on the issue in terms of trying to achieve the same objective. That is what we want to do. There is a concern on the part of the coalition, in respect of the timeline of the establishment of the commission and the review of the 1997 Act, that the review may not be delivered within the lifetime of this Government. However, we have given a commitment that it will happen very quickly, once the commission is established. We have given that commitment. I give a political commitment that we want the issue to be resolved as soon as is practicable, once the commission is established. I accept the fact that the ICCL and the coalition were not happy with our response. However, we believe that it is the most objective and independent way that we can carry out the review.