Joint Committee on the Constitution to consider technical aspects of electoral system

Continuing its hearings on reform of the electoral system, at its meeting tomorrow the Joint Committee on the Constitution will consider a number of technical aspects of the PR-STV electoral system.

The Committee will hear from Professor David Farrell, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin, and Dr. Gary Murphy, Associate Professor of Government, Dublin City University.

It will also receive a presentation from Mr. Hermann Schiavone, on the application of PR-STV electoral system in Malta

The meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 10 February at 9.30 a.m. in Committee Room 2, Leinster House.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Deputy Seán Ardagh, Chairman of the Committee, said:

“In a survey of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas carried out by the Joint Committee as part of its ongoing review of the electoral system, a number of suggestions were made on how the current electoral system might be improved. At our meeting tomorrow the Committee will consider some of these suggested reforms the PR-STV electoral system:

With Professor David Farrell the Committee will consider variations in the different STV systems used across the world. We will also consider Surplus Vote Transfer procedures in proportional voting systems.

With Professor Gary Murphy, the Committee will consider the filling of casual vacancies in the Dáil, and the arguments for and against using by-elections to fill such vacancies.

Mr. Hermann Schiavone, will also provide the Committee with a presentation on the application of PR-STV electoral system in Malta, the only other country that uses the PR-STV electoral system for its parliamentary elections.”

Witnesses appearing before the Joint Committee on the Constitution tomorrow:
Professor David Farrell, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin
Dr. Gary Murphy, Associate Professor of Government, Dublin City University
Mr. Hermann Schiavone, (Malta) PhD student at the University of Manchester
Ends
Further information, contact: Ciaran Brennan, Oireachtas Communications Unit,
01-6183903/086-0496518

Committee Membership

Deputies       Senators
Seán Ardagh (FF) (Chairman)    Dan Boyle (Green Party)
Jim O'Keeffe (FG) (Vice-Chairman)    Denis O'Donovan (FF)
Michael D'Arcy (FG)      Eugene Regan (FG)
Jimmy Devins (FF)      Alex White (LAB)
Tom Hayes (FG)
Brendan Howlin (LAB) (Leas-Cheann Comhairle)
Michael Kennedy (FF)
Denis Naughten (FG)
Ned O’Keeffe (FF)
Mary O'Rourke (FF)
Michael Woods (FF)