Ms Fiona Quinn:

I will address some of the Senator's questions and then ask my colleagues to respond to the others. On the challenge of engaging young people in particular, it is one of the issues we have called out in terms of the consultation on the electoral register reform. We should look at the option of provisionally registering 16 and 17 year olds, perhaps through a schools programme, with individuals then having the option to opt-out when they reach 18 years of age. This proposal definitely merits consideration as part of work on the electoral register.

On the Senator's question about research, again, the consultation on the electoral register sets out that that is one of the functions that should be considered in regard to the establishment of an electoral commission. As I am sure she will be aware, elsewhere in the world there are independent bodies similar to an electoral commission that carry out or oversee the carrying out of research in regard to electoral matters. From our perspective, it is something we will be considering as part of the functions of an electoral commission, which we consider might not need a legislative basis if a commission was to be established on an administrative basis initially. This is an area that we will examine. In the normal course of events in regard to research, we would welcome all proposals in that respect. We have to be mindful of public finance procedures, procurement, etc. but research is an important function of an electoral commission

I will hand over to my colleague, Mr. Ryan, to respond to the Senator's question on Seanad reform.