Memos reveal proposals on electoral commission

Three weeks ago, the Cabinet discussed and approved plans from Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to radically change how elections in this country are run.

Detailed memos relating to those plans were circulated to ministers in advance of the meeting, setting out the various options before them, particularly in relation to the establishment of an electoral commission.

This has been talked about for many years and was a key commitment in the 2016 programme for government agreed between Fine Gael and its Independent ministerial colleagues.

These plans are due to be published next week but the Irish Examiner today publishes the details of what is proposed.

Those Cabinet memos are part of a long overdue modernisation of how elections are carried out in this country.

It is widely accepted across the political spectrum that the status quo is no longer tolerable, particularly in light of the register, which is deemed to be “widely inaccurate”.

Ministers were informed of four options for the pending commission.

One offer is to keep the register in the hands of the 31 local authorities but this is not seen as tenable given its huge deficiencies at present.

The second is to establish it on a non-statutory basis which would seem like a pointless exercise.

This would be the preferred option if the Government was merely seeking to pay lip service to reform.

The third option is to establish it on a statutory basis but to give it limited powers to start off with.

The memo states: “Establish the commission on a statutory basis and assign a limited number of functions initially with a view to assigning further functions over time.”

This is seen by some as the most likely outcome as politicians from across the floor of the Dáil are highly sensitive to any changes as to how they win their seats.

The fourth and final option offered is to “establish the electoral commission on a statutory basis with all functions transferred from the outset”.

This is seen as a risky option.

Murphy will return to the Cabinet in the new year with his preferred option for ministers to approve.

Ministers were also informed of other key proposals being considered which include the creation of a single national register, with continuous registration and online options for public interaction.

“Given the importance of the electoral register, the process being planned includes a significant public consultation element and the process will take two to three years,” states the memo.

What is also interesting in the memos is the mention of reform of how election campaigns are funded.

The plans commit to “reform of legislation provisions concerning funding of election and referendum campaigns” which primarily will seek to limit the ability of external forces to fund election races under the radar.

Ultimately, these reforms are welcome and long overdue. No electoral register will ever be perfect and while Minister John Paul Phelan is correct to say the current system has served us well, it is also true to say it has had its day and is in dire need of reform.