Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for reform of the electoral system; if he intends to introduce a system of gender quotas for candidates standing for election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31874/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have already introduced reforms to the electoral system in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 which changed the terms of reference for the Constituency Commission to provide for a reduced number of TDs. Also in that Act the spending and reimbursement limits for Presidential elections were reduced and a six month time limit was placed on the calling of Dáil bye elections.

On 8 June 2011, I published the General Scheme of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011. Provision is made for the restriction of corporate donations, a reduction in the amounts that can be received as political donations and a reduction in the thresholds for declaring political donations. Political parties will also now be required to submit their annual accounts to the Standards in Public Office Commission for publication.

The new legislation will include a provision that political parties will face a cut of half their State political funding if they do not have at least 30% women and 30% men candidates at the next general election. This will then rise to 40% after 7 years. Payments made to qualified political parties under Part 3 of the Electoral Act 1997 are linked to performance at a General Election and these new requirements will therefore apply in respect of candidates of political parties at a General Election. It is also my intention that the measures would have a knock-on effect by providing an incentive to political parties voluntarily to apply similar arrangements at local elections.

In line with the Government's commitment to reform the way legislation is debated and implemented, I have published the General Scheme and invited public input on its contents. The Bill is currently being drafted and is to be published during the current Dáil term.