Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik and Senator Ó Murchú and the Cathaoirleach remember me. In the programme for Government, in our statement of priority, preparation work for the establishment of the electoral commission is being advanced with a view to bringing forward legislation for the establishment of such a commission in 2015. The Senator is correct that this was mentioned by the Tánaiste. We will push it. Senator Mac Conghail was in charge of the citizens assembly project and, obviously, has a great deal of knowledge in this area. We can dive in and learn much from that project.

It is worth recalling also the recommendation in the fourth report of the Convention on the Constitution which is emphatic on the issue we are discussing. I believe in saying that out straight. There is no point in discussing it, it was emphatic. In April the Taoiseach confirmed what we are discussing today that it was a priority. The recommendations will be brought forward.

In examining this issue we will have to consider a number of areas. We will have to consider practices in other jurisdictions. I despise the phrase "best practice" because I believe there is just practice and learning. No model fits the same in two different areas but we have to learn from it. We will have to consider the structure of the commission, to whom it reports, or if it reports to somebody, I presume it has to report to somebody, its relationship with other bodies currently involved in electoral administration, as we cannot create a giant organisation, a filtration system across to the other organisations, the approach to be followed in regard to extensive legislation that will be required and practical matters relating to staffing, financing, funding and so on.

We all know the current position on which I will not elaborate. All the Senators have spoken about it previously in respect of returning officers across the various electoral areas, local authorities trying to maintain registers of electors for local elections and the regulation of political funding, the role of SIPO, the role of the Clerk of the Dáil, the whole issue of the constituency commission and the referendum commission. It is only when one sits down and looks at them that one realises the scale of the issue. It is underpinned by a significant amount of law. This is an area where we have to be circumspect because there are building blocks in place. When unravelling the building blocks one has to be careful and ensure it is done rigorously and appropriately. That is something that is being worked on.

I have been asked deliberately by Senators what aspects the commission would look at. I think it should look at everything that has been stated and I would not rule anything out - registration of voters, postal voting, voter education programmes, schools, the school curriculum, the idea of sending out cards to 18 year olds is a great except by then it could be 16 year olds.