Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 22, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “(3) Where the Commission enters into contracts or appoints persons as consultants or advisers, a record of such contracts and consultations shall be kept and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on a bi-annual basis.”

This amendment inserts a new subsection into section 15 requiring that, where the commission enters into contracts or appoints persons as consultants or advisers, a record of such contracts and consultations shall be kept and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on a biannual basis. This amendment is about transparency. When the body responsible for elections and referendums in our country enters into contracts or appoints advisers, it is important that a proper record of this is kept and deposited with the Oireachtas.We are very lucky to live in a country where people have a higher degree of faith in the electoral process than is the case in many other countries. In order to keep this degree of faith, however, we must ensure there is complete transparency and accountability at every level of our democratic process.