Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will propose amendments to election finance laws to prevent persons from making political donations of more than the €2,500 limit by spreading donations between multiple business entities in which those persons may have a controlling interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21949/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for a range of electoral matters including 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.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is intended to use electronic voting machines in the next local government elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the Programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally.

I am not in a position, therefore, to be definitive regarding the timing of future use of the system. I am conscious of the extensive work inherent in the recommendations of the Commission on Electronic Voting, including the replacement of the election management software, as well as adaptations to the equipment and further end to end testing. At the very least, it will be problematic to envisage use of the current e-voting scheme at the Local and European Elections in 2009.

My Department has appointed consultants to carry out preliminary research on the issues arising in relation to the establishment of the Electoral Commission. The work is currently underway and is expected to be completed in August.