Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will correlate the census to the electoral register at a future date; the way he will reconcile the major discrepancies between the draft register of electors and the census figures in advance of the forthcoming local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28712/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In law the preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register.

The compilation of the register and the carrying out of a census are different processes with different statutory requirements. In addition, there are usually significant timing differences between the census and the register, with the census being carried out once every five years and the register being compiled on an annual basis. Therefore, care needs to be taken in making comparisons between these separate processes.

In working to compile the register for 2007-08, which is currently in force, registration authorities undertook and completed the most extensive registration campaign in decades. On the basis of the work undertaken, registration authorities have achieved a significant improvement in the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register compared to previous years.

My Department has advised authorities that the approach this year should be to maintain and build on the progress they have made to date. Looking ahead, the programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an independent electoral commission. The commission's responsibilities will include taking charge of the compilation of a new national rolling electoral register.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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It would appear that the Minister is saying that everything seems to be okay, and such is not the case. An article in The Sunday Tribune this week showed quite clearly that the register is overestimated by 105%.

I take on board what the Minister is saying, that there is an extensive review under way at present. According to his Secretary General's information to the committee yesterday, there has been no change in the draft register figures. In fact, it shows that the same problems will arise.

Given that the census coincides with what is happening — I take on board the point that a census takes place every five years but there has just been one — and we are facing into the local elections, there is the opportunity to sort something out.

Even with the new figures, where I believe there is a drop of 32,000, the number on the register is still estimated to be 120,000 above the number of voters in the country. If we take the recent constituency boundary reports, that amounts to almost five Deputies on the basis that 25,000 people are represented by one Deputy. Therefore, there are either five too many Deputies or five too few Deputies, and this must be corrected.

There are three underpinning factors to do with the register of electors — completion, accuracy and security. Under any of those three criteria the current system is badly flawed. I acknowledge the Department is putting money into correcting it, but it is putting money into the same system and all that will create are more of the same problems.

Could we not look at this in a visionary way which has two aspects, that there is the system in which the register of electors is compiled and there is the method by which individual citizens engage with it? The system needs a massive overhaul involving a move from a household registration system to an individual registration system and the creation of processes such as the use of the PPS system, which the Minister supported in this House at an earlier time when he was sitting in a different seat.

The Minister stated that he will put together a national commission. Perhaps that makes sense because at present there are 34 local authorities trying to compile registers where there is no guarantee of standard, no measurement and no core funding, and local authorities respond to this in an ad hoc fashion. Would his Department now consider changing the system and engaging a process where the individual citizen is measured through the PPS system for the exercise of his or her franchise?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Deputy Lynch raised a number of interesting points. He is correct in stating that there is real inconsistency between many of the local authorities. I myself discovered that. Even in the compilation of the register, in whether it is available electronically and in how it is conducted, there is little consistency. I agree there is work for my Department in that regard.

I hope many of these constructive suggestions being made can be fed into our idea for an electoral commission. It takes it away from my Department. I accept a loss of power is involved but most Deputies at this stage agree this is a most important issue and it needs to be addressed properly. The right place for that to be done is in a separate, independent electoral commission. I am drawing up proposals for the establishment of an electoral commission, the details of which will be debated in the House. I hope the very good ideas mooted by Deputy Ciarán Lynch will be fed into that commission.

It must be acknowledged that some progress has been made. There were huge discrepancies and over-estimations which are not acceptable. However, voting is not compulsory. People have a right not to be on the register and not to vote. A significant awareness campaign is required. Many people believe they are automatically put on the register. As a practising politician, Deputy Ciarán Lynch will be aware there is great ignorance on the matter. Many things need to be done and I hope the Deputy can feed his ideas into the electoral commission.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The Minister reminded me of the "Scrap Saturday" show when he referred to getting registered. Pat O'Connor found he was registered twice and voted twice in some election. It was a running theme on that show.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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He was not registered twice.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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From what I remember he voted twice anyway.

I take on board what the Minister said and I welcome the fact that he intends to put some direction on this matter. My question is when he intends to put the commission in place and whether he intends to provide specific terms of reference regarding the direction in which he wants the commission to go. All the independent reports show that if we keep spending money on our current system we are throwing good money after bad, because it will keep giving us what we got if we keep doing what we are doing.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Yes, I will produce terms of reference. Because this is such an important issue I would like an all-party approach to be taken, in the same way as I sought an all-party approach to the Green Paper on local government. Many of Deputy Ciarán Lynch's colleagues sit on the consultative committee and do very good work. When drawing up the terms of reference I intend to consult broadly with members of the Opposition such as Deputy Ciarán Lynch so we can get the most important aspects included in the terms of reference.