Seanad debates

Thursday, 4 July 2019

Citizens’ Assemblies Bill 2019: Second Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Paudie CoffeyPaudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House to deal with a technical Bill, addressing the requirement to select people from the electoral register to sit on the Citizens' Assembly. I will be brief in my commentary. I concur with Senator Boyhan regarding political assemblies. In a democracy, we must recognise the voice of the people and public representatives, whether in local authorities, the Dáil or the Seanad. I also believe that citizens' assemblies are an important mechanism for democratic engagement. As we have seen recently, it is a useful mechanism to gauge public opinion and inform the making of public policy and legislation. It is a necessary requirement and it will have the support of the House. I wish the Bill well and I think Members will pass it in the Seanad today.

Since we are speaking about the electoral registers, the Minister will agree that it is the responsibility of local authorities to have their electoral registers up to date. Some are better than others in this regard and it is important that we review and update electoral registers. Where improvements are needed, it is important that they happen as quickly as possible. In a democracy that we are all very proud of, it is important that, when people are entitled to vote, they have the vote. There is nothing worse than seeing a member of the public going to vote and being turned away from the polling booth with disappointment because he or she is not on the register. We need to deal with that. I wish the Bill well. It is necessary and the citizens' assemblies will play an important role in informing public debate and public policy.

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