Mr. Peter McVitty:

There are a number of issues about the current features of the electoral system. I will make a few points about the current system of electoral administration, working from the bottom up, to include the following: local talliers who have multiple responsibilities in the election process, including for local elections; the administration, organisation and maintenance of the register of electors; making polling schemes; for the logistics of elections; for providing assistance for the county registrar in the organisation of elections and formal and informal provision for providing personal assistance during elections. They also maintain the register on spending by parties and candidates in local elections.

The county registrar who is independent functions within the remit of the Courts Service of the Department of Justice and Equality. The county registrar has many other responsibilities through court administration, for example, shadow functions. County registrars are also returning officers in general elections and sub-returning officers for presidential, Dáil and European parliamentary elections and referenda.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government franchise unit drafts and monitors policy and the legislation regarding the electoral system.

The Referendum Commission is a temporary commission which is activated in the weeks preceding a referendum and then lapses after it. Its main role is to give impartial information on the referendum issues in question.

Boundary committees are established from time to time to redraw separately constituency boundaries, parliamentary constituencies and local electoral areas. Such committees are temporary in nature.

The Standards in Public Office Commission has functions that relate mainly to the explanation of spending by parties and candidates in a general election, the maintenance of the register and lobbyists.