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

Yes, but the commission will be able to offer guidance to returning officers. Addresses can be quite vague. It could be listed, for instance, as Swords, County Dublin. It does not necessarily need to be a specific address. Again, to give assurance on that, we have given a commitment to trying to change the legislative element of that, but the commission will issue guidance to returning officers such that when a candidate is registering, they do not have to be as specific about their home address. I met representatives of Women for Election a number of weeks ago and gave that assurance as well. This is an important issue and we are taking it on board.

A number of points were raised about the naming of constituencies. I know Tipperary North with north-west Kilkenny might not roll off the tongue but, again, these are issues that could be considered in the research programme that has been raised by Deputies as well as by Senators during this debate.

On the general issue of representation, I stress the point about representation at a local level. We are talking about the hinterland, where our councillors are still very important in terms of the representation of their electoral areas. I know it is not the same, but they play an important role.

I again thank the Senators who contributed on Second Stage. Based on the contributions I have heard, there is a general appreciation of the need to respect the independence of the newly established Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, and to accept the recommendations of the commission's report without change. The Bill, when enacted, will bring Dáil constituencies into line with population change, as ascertained in census 2022, and will ensure the requirements as set out in Article 16.2 of the Constitution have been met by the Oireachtas in full. As Senators will be aware and as I mentioned in my contribution, the constitutional requirement is for the total number of Members of Dáil Éireann to be no less than one member for each 30,000 of population and no more than one member for each 20,000. The Constitution also requires that there be the same ratio of representation in constituencies throughout the country, insofar as this is practical. Senators may be aware that An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its draft research programme recently. In the draft programme, the commission sets out its intention to carry out research into the issue of representation and the manner in which the overall number of TDs is determined in the context of the rising population and the current constitutional and legal provisions in this area. I look forward to the outcome of this work, as I am sure we all do.

While some could argue it may have been possible for the commission to suggest alternative solutions to those recommended in its report, the process itself is independent in its application, takes cognisance of the views of interested parties via a consultative process and, ultimately, is designed to ensure Dáil constituencies will fully comply with the requirements of the Constitution. I appreciate that some of the commission's recommendations may give rise to concerns for those who may be directly affected by the changes proposed. As Senator Boyhan noted, there are winners and losers throughout the country. There will always be swings and roundabouts, however, following a constituency revision. All we can do is ensure that the best arrangements, insofar as is practicable, will have regard to the legal imperatives of the Constitution and the statutory requirements prescribed in our electoral Acts. I thank the chair and the members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin for completing for what was, I am sure, a huge task for them and the body's first big challenge since its establishment. I look forward to further consideration on Committee Stage of the specific provisions of the Bill.