Electoral commission will not happen within the lifetime of this Government

The Coalition has reneged on another election promise after admitting that an electoral commission will not be established within the lifetime of this Government.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly announced the first steps in scoping out how such a commission will be set up. He called it a “momentous occasion” but admitted it would only be operational in time for the next local elections in 2019.

The Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government had pledged to establish a commission in its term.