Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 11, line 5, to delete “the Electoral Commission” and substitute “An Coimisiún Toghcháin”.

These amendments relate to the Irish language and to the commission itself. I thank the committee members for their suggestions and contributions on Committee Stage. I have reflected on the views expressed in tabling these amendments, which are centred on two themes.

First, amendments Nos. 1 and 8 relate to the title of the commission. I have tabled those amendments to provide that the commission's title, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, is legislated for in the Irish language only. A number of consequential amendments, 23 in total, flow from that change. References to the Electoral Commission will be replaced with references to An Coimisiún Toghcháin throughout the Bill. Guided by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the approach that has been taken is to update references to the Electoral Commission where such references relate to the commission's legislative definition and also where references to the Electoral Commission are to be placed in other legislation.

The second set of amendments I have tabled under this grouping relate to the commission's use of the Irish and English languages in its communications. Again, this is guided by the debate on Committee Stage. I have tabled a range of amendments to require that the commission publishes key documents and reports bilingually. These include the commission's strategy statement; statements explaining the subject matters of referendums and referendum notices; public notices and reviews carried out in respect of both national electoral constituencies and local electoral areas; and public notices, public information and reports on the regulation of online political advertising.

I hope Members will welcome and support these amendments.

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