Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this topic for the Adjournment debate. The report of the Democracy Commission, published today and entitled Engaging Citizens, describes itself as a "timely audit of the state of democracy in Ireland". Indeed, it is timely, given that it is 18 months until the next general election and this report asks us, as the people who will run that election, what we can do to engage citizens and make democracy more relevant to them.

The commission's research shows that while people are somewhat disillusioned and disenchanted, they are not disengaged. That is something we must be pleased about. The report also refers to the fact that many politicians share that disillusionment and, as a Government backbencher, one often feels disenfranchised in many ways. One can become frustrated by the political process when one sees people who can make decisions not making them as quickly as one might like.

Several recommendations in the report are worth further discussion, in particular the question of citizenship and what it means. The commission believes that "citizenship of the future is likely to rely more on loyalty to democratic institutions and the rule of law than on an identity based on birth, language and religion". It is time that we all recognised that fact. However, in recognising it, we need to make sure that those democratic institutions have absolute integrity.

That brings me to the recommendations of the commission on the running of elections. It recommends the establishment of an independent electoral commission, something we should examine because we need to have an election process that is separate from the political process.

Another recommendation relates to the electoral register, which we all recognise as being the most fundamental element of our system of democracy. It states who is eligible to vote but, as the Minister stated in response to a question some time ago, the level of inaccuracy therein is significant. In the Minister's response he indicated that there were 3.002 million people eligible to vote but the census data for the same period indicated that there should have been only 2.71 million voters. This represents an enormous difference of approximately 300,000 and in an electoral contest, that figure is considerable.

The commission recommends the introduction of a system of automatic registration based on PPS numbers. The PPS number is an individual, unique identity which every citizen receives. This would ensure 100% accuracy. Only people with PPS numbers should be represented on the electoral register. I have heard the Minister indicate that there are obstacles to such a system, including data protection issues, but such obstacles can be surmounted. Data protection should not stand in the way of an individual's fundamental right to vote. We must recognise which right should take precedence. I urge the Minister to consider introducing such a system because accuracy is what elections are all about and is vitally important.

The report also deals with the question of engaging people in citizenship. The commission indicates that we are alone among people in Europe in not having a political education system from primary level through to second level. I wonder how relevant and central politics is to people. We need to focus not just on schools but also on adult education. We have a very unique and sophisticated voting system. When I was canvassing during the 2002 general election I met 18 year olds who had no idea how to vote. As we know, as professionals, it is a very sophisticated system and keeping somebody out of office is as important as electing a candidate. The voting system can be used in that manner and we need to engage people.

One flaw in the report is its advocacy of gender quotas. I not believe in such quotas and do not think they are the way to go. However I recommend the report and hope we will have further opportunities to discuss its contents.

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