Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
967. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to each of the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention concerning Dáil electoral reform, the subject of its fourth report; and when the Dáil will debate these recommendations. [41652/14]
View answer968. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to each of the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention concerning extending the right to vote to citizens resident outside the State; and when the Dáil will debate these recommendations. [41653/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 968 together.
The Government has already responded to the recommendation in the Fourth Report of the Convention on the Constitution for the establishment of an Electoral Commission. The preparatory work on this task has commenced in my Department and the Government Legislation Programme provides for the publication of an Electoral Commission Bill in 2015.
The Government expects to respond to the remaining recommendations on the Dáil electoral system contained in the Fourth Report and to the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections before the end of the current Dáil session.
