Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy O'Malley for raising the issue and I assure her that being an ex-Government backbencher is even more frustrating than being a backbencher. I say that as one who has suffered that ignominious situation, when the people of Wicklow turned the other way once.

I welcome the report of the Democracy Commission. The report, entitled Engaging Citizens, is the culmination of over two years of research and consultation throughout the island of Ireland and contains many worthwhile recommendations on how to mobilise voters, particularly those who feel disenfranchised or who do not participate in the democratic process, and how to ensure equal opportunities for voters and candidates alike to fulfil their democratic duties.

I believe that the cynicism that is heaped upon political life in this country must have something to do with disenchantment. It would be a welcome development if the cynics would occasionally enter their names on the election lists. Perhaps there would be much better people in this House if they had that courage. However, frequently, if not invariably, they do not.

The report merits careful consideration and I will reflect on the views, findings and recommendations contained in it. I am pleased to note that some of the measures in the report are currently under consideration in my Department, which is interesting in itself.

We must secure greater participation by the people in the democratic process and the Department and I have been working steadfastly towards that goal. Coincidentally, the publication of this report takes place a few days before the launch of the Department's annual nationwide public information campaign to promote awareness of the draft register of electors. The objective of this campaign is to encourage voters to check the draft register to ensure that they are registered correctly and also to remind them that they cannot exercise their right to vote unless they are registered. For many years political parties did this work by going door to door. I remember the Labour Party coming to my door shortly after I first moved into Greystones to remind me to put my name on the voting register.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister should have told them where to go.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Indeed, shame on them. The reality is that it was an exercise in real politics and the cynics who often criticise politicians castigated that practice but the situation has worsened since it ended.

There is a collective responsibility on us all as individual citizens to check the register and make sure our details are correct. There is also a clear role for public representatives to promote awareness of the register and the need for individual action. A high quality register of electors is essential for the successful operation of the electoral system and the democratic process. This campaign is an important opportunity for us all to work towards that objective.

I am also considering further measures, including updated guidance in the short-term, to assist and support registration authorities in fulfilling their role in the registration process. This is "genteel-speak" for saying I will encourage them to do their job better than they have been doing. However, we should not lose sight of the positive achievements made. For example, following years of steady decline, the percentage of the electorate who turned out at the latest polls held in June last year for the European and local elections and for the referendum on citizenship, reversed the downward trend. On average, the national turn-out rose from 51% to 59%, which is a good trend.

I noted considerable interest in the recommendation by the commission for the introduction of electronic voting for all elections here. I welcome its view that such a system is well worth introducing for the benefits it will bring. Sadly, there was not a debate on the benefits and whether electronic voting was a better system than the system we had. My Department is undertaking a programme of further assessment and testing of the electronic voting and counting system to address the issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and to demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately. I would be deluding myself if I suggested that this will be an easy job because we must rebuild confidence in the system. I doubt if we will use it before the 2007 election.

Furthermore, I welcome the call for greater emphasis on democracy and citizenship in education. My Department has been involved in a number of educational initiatives on this issue and contributed to the development of a transition year course on democracy which was piloted last year. With more courses like this available both at primary, and particularly at secondary level, I foresee a substantial improvement in participation. I agree with Deputy O'Malley that this is something we should take far more seriously.

I thank the members of the Democracy Commission for their tireless dedication to their task. As well as the many other pressures on their time and energy, this is a very worthwhile exercise. I am confident their work will provide a sound basis for further research and concrete actions to improve the democratic process. Above all, I hope it will contribute to a more mature and considered debate on issues and on the institutions and processes of democracy than has been the case in recent times.