Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

These proposals mirror amendments put forward by our group and the Labour Party on Committee Stage. The Minister of State will recall there was strong agreement across the House in respect of the principle of these amendments. Amendment No. 18 proposes that there would be a register of political parties, that it would be published on the commission’s website and published in an accessible format.

Amendment No. 19 also addresses an important aspect for which there was strong support in the House from Government and Opposition Senators. The Minister of State will recall the debate from yesterday. In the time since, I hope he has taken the time to inquire about this aspect to see if there is any reason for this amendment not to be made. The proposal is that the register of political parties would be caused to be published on the commission’s website, as well as the constitution, a memorandum of association and any other such documents or written rules provided to the register. The legislation provides that these documents would be supplied in the context of registering a political party. The point was made clearly that these documents should be available to the public.

These documents are important for a few reasons. One concerns the public being clear about the constitutions of the political parties they are deciding between when making their electoral decisions. Another reason is that the availability of these documents would be important to encourage political participation among members of the public, and, as I mentioned in yesterday’s debate, ensuring that students, including school students, those engaged in CSPE and other others, would be able to see the constitution, the mechanisms, the rules and the workings of political parties. That would allow people to see how decision-making processes, even within political parties, can be influenced, where they can have a role and where they can bring motions.

Therefore, there is a transparency issue in this regard, but there is also the aspect of encouraging political participation and an empowerment perspective in respect of voters and potential political participants. I hope the Minister of State will support this proposed amendment, as well as either amendment No. 18 or amendment No. 20. Senator Moynihan is here now and may wish to speak to the Labour Party’s amendments in this grouping.