Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 3, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

"3.—Section 6 (amended by section 9 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009) of the Act of 1997 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1):

"(1A) Prior to the publication of the report referred to in subsection (1) the Constituency Commission shall produce an interim report that shall be published for public consultation for a period that does not exceed three months.".".

There is provision in the legislation for a three-month period of public consultation whereby the commission invites submissions in regard to proposed changes to constituencies and constituency boundaries. However, rather than the commission subsequently presenting a fait accompli to the Minister for consideration by the Government and the Oireachtas, this amendment proposes that it should publish an interim report after the consultation period which would offer scope for further discussion. It is within the discretion of the Government to accept or reject the commission's final report. The publication of an interim report after the three-month public consultation process would provide the public and the Oireachtas with an opportunity to respond to proposed changes.