Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is proposed to establish the promised independent electoral commission which will, [i]inter alia[/i], assume the functions of the Standards in Public Office Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29236/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps taken towards the establishment of an independent national electoral commission; and when it is expected to be operative. [29531/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 537 together.

The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling electoral register, take over the functions of the Standards in Public Office Commission relating to election spending, and examine the issue of financing the political system.

I will be developing appropriate proposals to take forward this extensive and complex agenda. In this regard, I intend shortly to commission preliminary research on issues arising in relation to the establishment of the Electoral Commission.