Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Would the Minister agree that, after three years in office and after putting this in the programme for Government in 2007, the passage of this piece of legislation is quite tardy where he has not even published the heads of a Bill on the independent electoral commission? When will the statutory independent electoral commission, which we support, be established? Nobody on this side of the House would have any difficulty with it. We are just waiting on the Minister to publish a report. Maybe he is having difficulties with his partners in Government.

When will the election for the directly-elected Dublin mayor be held? The Minister has stated that it is his intention to hold it this year, but could he be more definitive than that? Intentions are lovely. He had intentions in 2007 about setting up an electoral commission and we have not yet seen it. When will the Dublin mayoral election be?

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