Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to establish an independent electoral commission to take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight. [36400/08]

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 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.

My Department has appointed consultants to carry out preliminary research on issues arising in relation to establishment of the Electoral Commission. This work is now well-advanced and I expect to receive the report in the coming weeks. The research conclusions will inform further consideration of the approach to be taken in relation to establishment of the Commission.