Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to say a few words on this important topic. I note from the Minister of State's observations in his statement that he favours the local authorities having a big say in compiling the electoral register. I believe they should have a role to play, but there should be oversight. A number of years ago pressure was put on one of the Minister of State's predecessors, Dick Roche, to do something with the electoral register which was in a very poor state. He provided a sum of €100,000 for all of the local authorities to make a special effort to get the register up to date, to try to get everybody who should have been on it on it and to get people who should not have been on it off it. It required a big effort on the part of the local authorities at the time to do this and, in fairness, they responded.

The electoral register is ad hocin nature because many people contribute to how it is formed. There are rate or rent collectors, political parties, gardaí and ordinary citizens involved. In the long run, it is left up to people to sign on. In some cases, this can be quite cumbersome because one has to go to a Garda station which may, in some cases, be 20, 30 or 40 miles away. There is, therefore, a big onus on the citizen to travel in order to register. The process should be simpler. The electoral commission should be the basis in having some oversight of local authorities.

In the last part of his statement the Minister of State said the Oireachtas committee's report found that there was a relatively high level of trust in the electoral system. He went on to refer to the setting up of the commission, the bringing forward of the heads of the Bill and the Bill. The best way for him to proceed is by putting a Bill together and bringing it to this House. He can have a very responsible debate on it in all sectors of society, with Senators across the political divide and backgrounds. Even if he was to make many changes to it before it went to the Dáil, it would be a very worthwhile exercise and a way of moving forward on the issue.

On Seanad reform, I believe there will be a second register, probably bigger than that for general elections to the Dáil, because one may have people from Northern Ireland, America, England and countries all over the world on it. The way forward is the way the Minister of State is proceeding, with local authorities having a say in compiling the electoral register, with oversight by the electoral commission. If the Minister of State brings forward a Bill, he will receive a great response and there will be a fabulous debate in this House with all and sundry.