Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to progress the commitment in the revised Programme for Government to examine the feasibility of extending the franchise for Local Elections to those aged 16 and over by 10 October 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46479/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government, agreed in 2007, contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will, inter alia, take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight and implement modern and efficient electoral practices. The Renewed Programme for Government, agreed in October 2009, reaffirms this commitment and states that within 12 months, the Commission will also propose reforms to the electoral system, including make recommendations on the possibility of extending the franchise for Local Elections to those aged 16 or over.

In implementing the commitments as set out in the 2007 Programme for Government, and to assist in consideration of the wide range of issues involved, I commissioned a report by an expert group from University College Dublin. I published the report, entitled A Preliminary Study on the Establishment of an Electoral Commission in Ireland, for consultation in February 2009. The report is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Written submissions received to date as part of the consultation process are currently being considered. While the formal closing date for written submissions has passed, I will still welcome and consider any views and observations that are put forward by interested individuals and organisations.

In developing and bringing forward proposals for the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission, based on the commitments contained in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government, I will take into account the report prepared by the UCD group and views put forward as part of the consultation process.