Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his explanation. On the Bill itself, this legislation is of enormous importance. Repeatedly during our discussions both as part of pre-legislative scrutiny and on Second Stage, it was described as a once-in-a-generation Bill. I echo Deputy McAuliffe's description of the pre-legislative scrutiny. It was probably the most detailed done in this Oireachtas and a very significant amount of time was taken by members and witnesses. It was also one of the most collegiate and cross-party pre-legislative scrutiny processes we have had. There was broad agreement among members, irrespective of party, on the need for the most modern, well-resourced and independent electoral commission, electoral register and subsequent processes to ensure our electoral processes into the future are free, fair, democratic and of the highest possible integrity.

In fairness to the Minister, he indicated early on there was an intention to bring a range of non-consequential amendments and he wrote to members of the committee outlining the general areas in which he intended to do that. I thank the Department and its officials for organising a detailed briefing yesterday that a number of us attended. It was helpful because, even with the best will in the world, some of these amendments are very technical and it is much better to have had that briefing before we go to Committee Stage.

Sinn Féin warmly welcomes both sets of non-consequential amendments. During the last Dáil, Deputy Ó Cuív had a Private Members' motion on modernising the voting arrangements on the islands passed and we supported that. My colleagues, in particular Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn, were very vocal on it in the last Oireachtas and previously and we are very happy to support those amendments.

With respect to the amendments dealing with the Electoral Act 1997, anything that increases the transparency, accountability and visibility is warmly welcomed. We have no difficulty with the amendments whatsoever and will be supporting them later on.

It is important to echo what Deputy McAuliffe said. The Chair of the committee and the committee itself have made it clear there is no guillotine and we will take as much time as we need to go through these amendments. Members may have technical questions on the consequential or, indeed, the non-consequential amendments. There will be plenty of time for debate around that. We will return here for Report and Final Stages before the Bill goes to the Seanad.

I have a final point, and again it is in the spirit of collegiality we had during the pre-legislative scrutiny. Deputy McAuliffe made a fair point on the speaking time. If he had spoken to me beforehand, I would have happily given him a few minutes of my time if he needed it. We need to return to the issue of the regulation of online social media platforms and advertising on those platforms and our electoral processes. There was a very strong sense from all members of the committee - opposition and government members - that while the provisions in the Bill are welcome, they are weak. It is incumbent on us, once this Bill is passed, to return and have a wider conversation about that.

I believe there is an appetite in the committee to ensure that the same principles and values that underpin the strong restrictions on buying advertising in mainstream media should apply to social media as well. We are very fortunate that we do not have the type of malign influence that certain forms of financial investment have in other liberal democracies around the world, and we should ensure those same principles apply to media. I assure Deputy McAuliffe he has friends on this side of the House if he wants to pursue that.

However, we must get this Bill through and get the electoral commission established. It has to be an electoral commission of strength and substance, with adequate resourcing and with the power to conduct the crucial pieces of research that the Government was not willing to include in this Bill, so it can recommend further reform into the future. I look forward to the committee's debate today, tomorrow and Friday and, indeed, next week, if that is deemed necessary by the members.

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