Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The onus on and responsibility of political parties in that regard are critical in order that people who want to look up a political party or are interested in joining one are able to clearly see on the party's website its guiding principles, founding principles, etc. All political parties should adhere to that.

I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for the proposed amendments relating to the publication of the register of political parties. These amendments were previously tabled by Deputy Nash on Committee Stage in the Dáil. Currently, the maintenance of the register of political parties is the responsibility of the Clerk of the Dáil. In terms of the register being available for inspection, section 25C(2) of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 11 the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, requires that the register be made available for inspection at the registrar's office. However, in practice, the registrar publishes it on the Oireachtas website.

When bringing existing electoral functions over to an coimisiún in this Bill, I have taken a general approach of endeavouring to bring them over intact. However, in this instance I have removed the 1992 Act stipulation that the register be made available for inspection at the offices of the registrar, making the text in section 51 of this Bill more general so that it does not contain an implication that the register is a physical document which must be inspected at the registrar's office. I am satisfied that this empowers an coimisiún to publish the register on its website, as intended in amendments Nos. 32 and 34.

In respect of amendment No. 33, while I support transparency in how political parties are governed, I am conscious of the burdens on an coimisiún in getting established and building up experience and organisational capacity. This is consistent with what we have been stated in response to a number of amendments. On balance, I am of the view that this is not the time to make a change to the content of the register. I do not propose to accept the amendments.