Mr. Barry Ryan:

The main role for the Department is legislative. There are the two items of legislation, namely, the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 and the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947. Consideration has to be given to introducing amendments regrading the finding of unconstitutionality the Supreme Court in respect of the 1937 Act. There are independent returning officers there, both in the context of the university panel and the other panels. There are independent returning officers who run the election. That is the role subsequently for the Electoral Commission with the post-electoral event reviews. All electoral events are listed, but it includes the Seanad elections. The commission will have a role in reporting on the operation of those after each one.