Submission on formation and powers of an Electoral Commission for Ireland
Stephen Spillane, Cork
I have been involved voluntarily in Politics for the past 10 years. I have served as Director of
Policy for Young Fine Gael. In the 2014 Local Elections I was a Director of Elections for a
candidate and in the 2008 Lisbon II Referendum I was chair of Generation Yes Cork. I have
studied politics and below I set out my answers to the questions on the formation and
powers of an Electoral Commission for Ireland.
I would be prepared to appear before the committee to answer any questions they may
have.
1.
Functions
1. What existing functions in the conduct and management of elections and
referendums would be transferred to such a Commission?
The Electoral Commission should take on the following functions:
 Maintaining the Register of Political Parties
 Maintaining the Electoral register across the State
 Management of Returning Officers
 Undertaking reviews of Dail, European Constituencies and Local Election areas
Boundaries
 Political Spending Watchdog (Role of SIPO)
 Asssume the role of the referendum commission during referendums
 Research on Elections and Referendums run in each year.
 Issuing rules for coverage of referendums and elections on TV and Radio (currently
BAI)
The Electoral Commission should also take a pro-active role in informing the electorate in
relation to registering people to vote and increasing voter turnout.
Currently for third party groups in referendums, especially staffed by volunteers, are
overwhelmed with all the official bodies they need to register with. If only one body is
charged with dealing with donations and the running of the count, it means that its easier
for groups to get involved with the democratic process.
Also for 1st time candidates in Elections, having only one national body to deal with in
terms of electoral registers and appointing agents among the other admin work would
make it more accessible and understandable.
The current system is very confusing for those outside of politics and I would suggest many
citizens would not be able to tell us who deals with donations or deals with the register of
Political parties.
2. What functions would remain with existing actors and why?
The whole point of having point having an Electoral Commission means it should be a one
stop shop for all electoral issues. It should of course work with local authorities in terms of
use of venues for counts, polling stations and storage of ballot boxes between elections,
but the overall responsibility should rest with the Electoral Commission.
2. Independence and accountability / Membership
1. How would the Commission’s independence be promoted along with its
accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas / Government for carrying out the
functions assigned to it?
The same way that Electoral Commissions are around the world. Looking at the Australian
Electoral Commission, New Zealand Electoral Commission and the UK Electoral
Commission should inform the committee on how this would work.
2. What mechanisms would be used to promote this accountability?
A yearly report should be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in a form similar to that
of the ombudsman. A special report should be laid before each House of the Oireachtas
following any election, referendum or by-election.
3. Who should be a Member and how should members of the Commission be
appointed?
The Commission should be appointed using the Public Appointments Process. Members
should have some insight into the areas, either through academia or having played a role
in the political system.
3. Establishment process
1. Should the establishment of the Commission be undertaken on a phased basis, as
recommended by the report commissioned by the Department from the Geary
Institute, or some other way?
Yes, a phased basis would be the best way to establish the new Electoral Commission.
Responsibility for the Boundary Reviews and Register of Political Parties should be first
powers handed over and the rest added gradually.
2. Should it exist alongside SIPO (Standards in Public Office Commission) or within
SIPO?
SIPO should be subsumed into the new Electoral Commission
Recommendations:
 An Electoral Commission for Ireland should be formed.
 The Electoral Commission should take on responsibility for the running of elections
and referendums in Ireland.
 SIPO should be subsumed into the Electoral Commission