Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
510. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether his Department consulted the European Commission on all amendments to the Electoral Reform Bill 2022, including the last amendments introduced in Seanad Éireann in July 2022, including the new Part V of the Bill on disinformation. [41935/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services (codification).
This notification procedure (known as Technical Regulation Information System or TRIS) aims to prevent the creation of barriers to trade in the internal market before they materialise. Under the notification procedure, a 90 day standstill period applies to the draft instrument following notification to the Commission to allow for the consideration of any relevant observations/comments received from the European Commission, Member States and other affected stakeholders.
During the concluding Dáil debate on the Bill on 13 July 2022, I highlighted that both Parts 4 and 5 of the Bill had been notified to the European Commission in order to provide an opportunity for Commission, Member States and other affected stakeholders to make comments or observations on the relevant provisions in the Bill.
In addition, I stressed that any comments or observations that might arise from the Commission from this formal consultative process could be considered in advance of the commencement of Parts 4 and 5 both of which are subject to commencement orders under section 1(5) of the Act.
