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

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Before closing, I will respond to some of the points they raised.

The overarching thing I will say relates to the point made by Senator Boyhan on the draft research programme and the 12 January deadline. We might be able to write submissions with the Christmas pudding. It is important. I cannot stress how important it is that political parties and individual members of the public bring forward submissions because it is broad. There is a stream called the blue sky stream of research that the commission is proposing. It is all hugely significant and important. Any of the points raised by Senators could certainly be addressed in the draft research programme. The commission could give consideration to them as it finalises its research programme for the next few years. Specifically, Senators raised the issue of three-, four- and five-seater constituencies. That was the decision that was made. The commission and Ms Justice Baker have given a commitment to reviewing that in the next research programme, not least in respect of six-seaters. Some Deputies raised in the Dáil the issue of capping the number of TDs, and it was noted that our country is growing at a population increase of two TDs per year, so at some point we will have to give consideration to how that is managed and look at other jurisdictions in that regard.

I thank Senator Cummins for his positive comments on the commission and its impartiality. That is sacrosanct, and it is very important that it not be questioned. The commission is already proving its worth.

I accept the points raised by Senator Ruane and others regarding three-seater constituencies. As a member of a smaller party, I agree in the sense that with four-, five- and six-seaters, there is greater diversity and greater opportunities, but there is also an onus on political parties to ensure gender balance in their candidate selection and to provide supports for women and minority candidates to get them elected. That is important too.

Senators Moynihan and Ruane both raised the important issue of candidates' addresses in light of the significant challenges in that regard. I know, at least from our party’s perspective, that for any potential candidates who would consider running, when they have seen events unfold in recent weeks and months and online, they would be fearful of having their address published. Guidance is provided, however, by the Department to returning officers in advance of elections and it states that a candidate's address may not necessarily need to relate to their residence. It could, for example, be their place of business or a constituency office, and a certain vagueness can be applied to that. I have given a commitment in the Dáil, during the discussions on this, that-----