Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I know. The Boundary Commission illustrated the comprehensive reforms that the Minister intends to make in order to ensure the change comes into play.

I have read the Bill and noticed that the constituencies are large. Some countries have single-seat constituencies or a national list system, but Ireland has never considered adopting the system and it has not been mentioned in the Bill. We like the proportional representation system in Ireland. Perhaps we should consider single-seat constituencies, particularly as some of the European Parliament's constituencies are large. I have been talking about section 24, which provides for the total number of European persons.

As a result of Article 29 of the Constitution, the Seanad, when discussing the European Union and changing European laws, must give prior approval to EU proposals for enhanced co-operation as laid out in the Schengen Agreement. We have not used the Seanad to the best of its ability in that regard and often take European issues without debate. It would be good to provide a time slot in the Seanad in order to ensure that European issues are discussed, as provided for in the current European Union proposal.

The Minister outlined changes for residents who are non-nationals, and I shall not repeat his comments. The change is good because it will give such residents an opportunity to participate in elections.

Section 9 provides that notice of the European Parliament election must be given not later than "the thirty-fifth day" before polling, an increase of seven days from the current 28 days. The provision is a welcome change.

Two amendments have been tabled on the supplement for the postal electorate and I received notice of an amendment this morning. Earlier, the Minister said that he would elaborate further on the matter when we reached Committee Stage. Anything that gives the electorate more time to consider a matter is good because people have been at the pin of their collars trying to register their names over two days. The aim and objective of the Minister and Senators is to make participation easier, and we all want everybody to vote. Members will have heard what Senator van Turnhout said about her experience when her father was in hospital. I urger that we remove bureaucracy and simplify the system in order to allow people to easily avail of the postal and special voters' list. The changes outlined by the Minister is a welcome first step. Perhaps the matter should be further examined. I ask him to comment.

At the start of the process the register of electors will be changed nationally due to new local authority arrangements. That must be done and it is welcome. However, we cannot give anyone a mandate to do anything. I suggest that undertakers notify local authorities when somebody dies so that it can remove the person's name from the register. Such notification should be made in all instances.