Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senators Ruane and Higgins on introducing the Bill. It concerns an issue that many of us in the House will have come across, given that in most cases we will have come to politics through our community activism. I have had involvement with many of the groups mentioned and know that many of the problems have existed for 20 years, putting undue pressures on small groups on which the State relies for much of its functioning. It is unpaid, voluntary work. I commend, therefore, the Senators and the Civil Engagement group on introducing the Bill.

Nevertheless, it is clear there are problems with the Bill as it stands and the two Senators have pointed out what they are. Through my involvement with the campaign to repeal the eighth amendment, it was very clear to me that there were problems with foreign donations. The best way forward from our perspective is to return to the programme for Government and to what we committed to therein, that is, the establishment of an electoral commission and, on that basis, an electoral reform Bill. I understand the repeated concern of those in opposition when they hear that another Government Bill regarding a commission will be brought forward. A memo on the issue has gone to the Cabinet, however, so it has progressed a great deal.

There are many issues I would like to be addressed. This is certainly right up there among them, but so too are election posters, which impact on smaller parties and Independents much more than on larger parties. Incumbents within those larger parties have an advantage, which means that men also have an advantage because they are often incumbents. In this day and age when we are examining why we do not have better representation and why there was such an under-representation of women Senators before the Taoiseach’s nominees had been announced, now more than ever we need to examine electoral reform. Many of us throughout the House have signed pledges in respect of electoral reform in the Seanad and I would like that to be progressed. I would also like us to look to models outside of Ireland when we examine advertising. In Europe, for example, there are billboards in several parts of towns that give every political candidate, irrespective of his or her capacity to fundraise, the same right to put himself or herself forward in a democratic way.

So many factors, which the Minister of State will probably outline, will form part of the proposed electoral reform Bill. I have outlined some of them. I ask the Minister of State that he give them due regard and that something to address them come before us as soon as possible.