Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has proposals to widen the Seanad Éireann electorate for the higher education constituencies where, at present, graduates of universities and colleges other than NUI or Trinity are denied the right to vote and where the necessary constitutional change to permit the extension of voting rights was made many years ago. [26388/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Report on Seanad Reform by the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, published in April 2004, sets out comprehensive recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future role of Seanad Éireann. The Report recommends significant reform of the Seanad electoral system, involving rolling renewal of the Seanad and the introduction of direct election to a single national 26 seat constituency, with a further 6 seats to be reserved for direct election to a separate higher education constituency to include all graduates of institutions of higher education in the State.

At the request of the Taoiseach, an Informal All-Party Parliamentary Group on Seanad Reform was established in 2005, chaired by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Group's role was to assess the extent of cross-party agreement on the Sub-Committee's recommendations and to advance, with consensus, proposals for the implementation of Seanad Reform. The Group addressed proposals which attracted early consensus and which are capable of implementation in the short to medium term. Prior to the general election, the Group referred a number of draft Standing Orders changes to the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges to be piloted as Sessional Orders.

The Government's Programme includes a commitment to determine the extent of cross-party agreement on the recommendations of the 2004 Report to advance proposals for implementation. This would include consideration of the widening of the franchise for the higher education constituency in Seanad Éireann. I am currently considering how best to advance the Government Programme commitment.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the Electoral Acts to provide for increased transparency in the funding of political parties and for greater scrutiny of political party expenditure, as strongly urged by the Standards in Public Office Commission in its most recent annual report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28684/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for a range of electoral matters including, inter alia, the functions currently exercised by the Standards in Public Office Commission relating to election spending; the Electoral Commission will also examine the issue of financing of the political system. I will be developing appropriate proposals in regard to the establishment of the Commission.

In addition, the Agreed Programme for Government commits to publishing a Green Paper on local government reform. One of the issues which the Green Paper will address is the question of expenditure limits at local elections. There are currently no such limits, although expenditure, as well as donations over a €635 threshold, must be disclosed. I have set in train a process of public consultation prior to the preparation of the Green Paper and established a related Consultative Committee. Work on the Green Paper should be completed by the end of this year with final proposals to be settled in a White Paper next year.

I am satisfied that the proposals for the Electoral Commission, together with the initiatives which will emerge from the Green Paper, provide an appropriate framework to progress our extensive and complex agenda for electoral and local government reform.