Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2022
92. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an up-to-date timeline for the establishment of the Electoral Commission, along with expected budget and staffing requirements for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53813/22]
View answerThe Electoral Reform Act 2022 was enacted on 25 July 2022 and provides the legislative underpinnings of the Electoral Commission - titled An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
An Coimisiún will be an independent body of substance. It is taking on a range of existing electoral functions such as the registration of political parties and the work of Referendum Commissions, Constituency Commissions and Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees.
It will also have a range of new functions including a research, advisory and voter education role, the oversight of the Electoral Register (on completion of the modernisation project) and responsibility of the regulation of online paid-for political advertising.
An Coimisiún will also be responsible for the investigation and monitoring of online disinformation, online misinformation and manipulative or inauthentic behaviour online during election campaign periods.
Administrative arrangements for its establishment are currently being put in place by a transition team, and its formal establishment is anticipated by the end of this year or early in 2023.
As announced in the Dáil debate on the budget on 28 September, An Coimisiún Toghcháin has been allocated funding of €5.7m for 2023. The staffing requirements for An Coimisiún for 2023 are currently being finalised as part of the administrative arrangements for its establishment.
