Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the electoral process for Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37323/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that the criteria for selection of nominees to the Seanad are satisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37324/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied to allow the by-election for the vacancy in the Seanad to go ahead on 10 October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37325/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together.

Provisions for elections to Seanad Éireann are set out in Article 18 of the Constitution, in the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 and the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947. These Acts make provision for the nomination of candidates for general elections and bye elections having regard as necessary to the provisions in the Constitution. On 2 September 2014 I made an order directing that a bye election be held to fill the vacancy in the Seanad caused by the election of Deirdre Clune to the European Parliament. The poll at the bye election will close at 11.00am on Friday 10 October 2014.

The Government plans for reform of Seanad electoral law are well documented. In February 2014 the General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014 was published for consultation.  The General Scheme is part of the legislative process to implement the 1979 constitutional amendment to extend the Seanad franchise to graduates from institutions of higher education in the State that heretofore did not form part of the Seanad university constituencies. The Statement of Government Prioritiespublished in July 2014 provides for the enactment of this legislation.  The Government Legislation Programme for Autumn 2014 provides for the publication of the Bill in 2015.