I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to exclude the requirement to publish the addresses of candidates standing for election to County Councils, Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann, the Presidency or the European Parliament; to amend the Electoral Amendment Act 2009; to amend the Local Government Act 1994; to amend the Electoral Act 1992; to amend the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947; to amend the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937; to amend the European Parliament Elections Act 1997; to amend the Presidential Elections Act 1993; and to provide for related matters.
I am introducing this Bill in response to the growing concern among people in politics about safety. It is a really simple Bill, a very simple measure, but it will be very impactful if the Government were to drive it through the legislative system. Before I go into detail on the Bill, I want to ask the Minister of State on behalf of the Government not just to allow this Bill pass through to Second Stage but to actually champion it. There will be European and local elections this year. We could also have a general election and, therefore, Seanad elections this year. There will be a mayoral election in Limerick and in the next two years there will be a presidential election. Therefore, this is really relevant legislation now. This really needs to be done whether through this Bill or through Government legislation. I want to see the principle of this Bill being applied so that it is available to all candidates as we head into this year of elections.
The purpose of the Bill is to remove the requirement for candidates seeking political office to publish a home address on nomination and ballot papers. This requires amendments to several Acts that govern the conduct of elections to county and city councils, Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann, the European Parliament and the Presidency. The Bill seeks to end the practice of publication of candidates' addresses on documentation available to the broader public, including nomination papers, ballot papers and postal ballots. Some of the legislation that governs elections in Ireland was written in the 1930s and 1940s. That was a very different world and predated the likes of Google Maps and online search engines that make it so much easier for specific locations to be found.
Currently a candidate for election is required to publish an address on both nomination papers and ballot papers. This is tantamount to invasion of privacy because it is not just the privacy of the candidate we are talking about here, but also the privacy of his or her children, partner and perhaps parents. It is really important to make that point. I acknowledge that in some instances candidates are allowed to publish the address of a council office but that is an ad hoc arrangement and it only applies to sitting elected representatives. That means incumbents have less concern on this front and first-time candidates are in a much more vulnerable position.
We are all very aware of the changed political landscape we are in now. The increased incidence of targeted harassment of public representatives has been well-documented. Some of the actions taken by members of the public at the homes of political officeholders have ranged from protest to property damage and indeed much worse.
There is also increased public awareness of the gendered nature of actions targeting female politicians and candidates. There has been a marked increase in concern for the safety of political candidates and officeholders. We have seen that reflected in the actions of the Ceann Comhairle who has championed this within the Houses of the Oireachtas by undertaking a review of security protocols for Members. Importantly in light of the recent aggressions that we have seen towards migrant communities in Ireland, the need to publish a home address may serve as a deterrent for members of that community to stand for election in Ireland.
Fear of loss of privacy and safety is a legitimate concern for candidates and their families. We have already seen it impact in cases like that of the former Senator, Máiría Cahill, who had to withdraw from elections in Northern Ireland due to the need to publish her home address. To guarantee the full and fair participation of all members of society in the electoral process, it must be ensured steps are taken to protect people's safety. There is a real need for the reform of elections in this instance and a need for this Bill.
The people who are most vulnerable to these increased security risks, whether women or people from migrant communities, are actually the voices that we most need to have in these Chambers and on local councils. If we want to move to a fully representative country in a fully representative democracy, we need to encourage those people into our government systems. At the moment our systems exclude them or will make it more difficult and there will be a chilling effect on their participation. I ask for the Government to champion this and drive it through to ensure it is in place. If the Minister of State has any doubt about it, she should ask her own counsellors, candidates, TDs and Senators what they think. Every single person will say but they believe that this Bill should be implemented. I ask her to do what she can to get it through.
