Mr. Barry Ryan:

There has been so much talk about the electoral commission that perhaps I should update the committee. I am sure the committee is aware that the establishment of an electoral commission is in the existing programme for Government. There have been many considerations and reports over the years by Oireachtas committees and consultation processes on the establishment of such a commission. The Department is preparing a regulatory impact analysis which we expect to be completed in the autumn. It will set out a range of options and each one will, in turn, set out a range of functions together with membership, accountability mechanisms, timelines for establishing the commission and the costs of each option. I caution about commissions from my knowledge of this internationally. I had the pleasure of meeting the chief executive officer of the UK Electoral Commission, Ms Claire Bassett, when she was here last week and I believe she also met Deputy Lawless.