Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The impact the Electoral Commission has had in the very short time it has been there has been very significant. I commend Mr. O’Leary on that. Part of the reason for that is the level of leadership shown by the witnesses. I have met them several times on the campaign trail, at the count in Trinity College Dublin and now here. Is there more than one Mr. Art O’Leary, we might question, not that there is any suggestion of impersonation or anything like that. I congratulate them.

As an academic for 22 years engaged in research, it has struck me many times since I came in here that many of the questions we explore at committee and in the debates in the Seanad could be addressed by collaboration with universities. I really want to thank Professor Flynn and Dr. Price for the incredible work they have done.

I will bundle my questions. Is there scope for further research? The contribution to knowledge is really important. As was said, we do not know enough about the voters and the non-voters but the work the commission has done and the findings the witnesses presented here today are a very significant contribution to knowledge. Is there scope for continued collaboration? Is funding available for that?

I am aware that voter turnout is a concern generally. I do not know if the witnesses will know the answer to this, but is the turnout among disabled citizens broadly in line with voter turnout in the general population? On the question of intersectionality, queers, Travellers and ethnicity is there any information on turnout there? I note the very interesting figure of 9% of disabled citizens citing this as a reason not to vote. My final two questions are for all the witnesses. Is there any single action we could take, or any kind of low-hanging fruit, that would really assist or accelerate accessibility on that basis? Where are we in relation to the UNCRPD now that Ireland has fully ratified the optional protocol? Are we compliant with the UNCRPD in terms of the work the Electoral Commission does?