Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputies for their contributions over the past two evenings and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. The motion and amendments are concerned with a range of important issues relating to the Oireachtas and other matters within the public expenditure and reform agenda. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, dealt with these and other matters relating to Government and the Legislature at national level. I will deal briefly with the items that come within my direct area, namely electoral provisions and local government.

As Minister with responsibility for local government and for overseeing a modern and efficient electoral system, reform and development are key aspects of the policy agenda I want to pursue. I agree with Deputy Fleming that all ideas for policy implementation should be considered. He made a number of practical suggestions that are important for the local government area, which are very much in keeping with my ideas regarding devolution of power from central to local government. I am sorry Deputy Ross left the House because when he speaks about political change and reform, it is about himself. As Fine Gael spokesman in opposition on this area not long ago, I spelled out radical ideas on how we could reform the Oireachtas and politics at local and national level. The then Senator Ross opposed every one of those suggestions. We cannot have it every way. I put political reform on the national political agenda and I am determined, as is the Government, that much of that reform will be implemented.

I take on board that there is significant change required in the way we operate in the House. The Government is intent on making that change. In terms of political reform, the Government is committed to delivering tangible results and that agenda has been placed at the heart of the Government programme. The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 will provide for the implementation of a number of recent decisions announced by the Government. First, as part of the agenda to make the political system leaner and more efficient for its citizens, the terms of reference for the constituency commission will result in a reduction in the number of Deputies. The constituency convention, which will be established in the near future, will examine, among other issues, the question of whether we need a second House. The constituency commission, which is due to be established upon the publication of the 2011 census results will report within three months of the publication of the final census results in 2012. The Oireachtas will then have the opportunity to make the final legislative changes needed for implementation of these particular proposals.

Second, considering the current economic climate and bearing in mind the prevailing mood for restraint in all aspects of public life, the Government has agreed to reduce the spending limits for the forthcoming presidential election and to reduce the amount that candidates can be reimbursed for expenses substantially. Also, in order to ensure that citizens are fully represented in the Dáil and that vacancies will not be allowed to continue for an indeterminate time, the Government has agreed to an amendment to the electoral Acts which will guarantee that all by-elections are called within six months of a vacancy arising.

Yesterday, I announced details of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, which will be published in the coming weeks. It will amend the electoral Acts to implement political funding commitments set out in the programme for Government. Key elements include significant restrictions on corporate donations over €200 and reductions in the amounts of political donations that may be accepted as well as a lowering of the thresholds that can be declared. We will also place a new condition on State funding of political parties. If parties do not want to have their State funding halved, they must have at least 30% female and 30% male candidates at the next general election. This will rise to 40% after seven years.

The Electoral Commission Bill is also part of the Government's legislative programme and it will be enacted during the lifetime of the Dáil. It contains a commitment to establish a commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department into one entity. There is broad agreement on the principle that an electoral commission should be established. Issues for consideration include international best practice; its structures and functions; who it will report to; its relationship with other bodies; and the approach to be followed with regard to the extensive legislation that will be required.

The fundamental challenge for us all is to rebuild the economy and promote a fair and cohesive society. This will be the foundation for a restoration of confidence in the political system at national and local level. I am determined to devolve functions from central to local government, to make local government meaningful to citizens again and that people elected to local government will have a meaningful role and impact on the lives of those in local communities. We have set out a programme of political reform which will overhaul the way politics, the Oireachtas and government work. It is an ambitious programme, but it is required in order to modernise, renew and transform the way we do business here and in the political system generally. The public needs to have faith in politics again and in the ability of Government, in all its forms, to deliver. We are determined to deliver that.

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