John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current progress on the establishment of an electoral commission; when he plans to introduce necessary legislation concerning its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31106/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of an Electoral Commission is a key commitment in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, with the aim of a Commission being in place by the end of 2021. An Electoral Commission will bring together several electoral functions in an independent, dedicated public body.

The Electoral Commission’s establishment is guided by a number of recent reports and public consultation processes, including:

- the 2016 report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on the Consultation on the Proposed Electoral Commission; and

- the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) and public consultation concerning the establishment of an Electoral Commission, which was completed my Department in 2019.

My Department is currently preparing the General Scheme of a Bill which will give effect to the commitment to establish an electoral commission and I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in this regard.