Green Paper proposes creating independent electoral commission

A Green Paper which suggests devolving responsibility for aspects of election administration to a permanent, full-time electoral commission is to be prepared for Government.

The paper proposes establishing the electoral commission as an body independent of Government in much the same way as the Revenue Commissioners are free from political interference.

It is envisaged that the commission would assume powers for constituency boundary revision, the compilation of the electoral register, the voting system - whether electronic or not - and administration of elections themselves, including counts and election declarations.

The paper also suggests the commission should take over the role currently filled by the Standards In Public Office Commission. Commenting on the paper to The Irish Times, Minister for the Environment and Local Government Dick Roche said he was among the first to express "an abhorrence of quangos" or non-elected bodies, but he said in this instance what was required was political independence.

He said that whatever Minister sat in his chair would be accused of tampering with the system, once reform was proposed.

Mr Roche said he had been of the view for some time, but referred to the introduction of electronic voting as being turned into "a political football" and the current difficulties over the compilation of the electoral register.

"In most countries the management of the electoral system is given to an independent electoral commission. In Ireland, we have a very mixed system, which has developed over the decades," he said.

"I think we are at the stage now where we must push forward with a full-time commission to take charge of all relevant electoral functions," he said.

He added that the commission would "take responsibility for all aspects of our elections, from establishing constituency boundaries, oversight of the compilation of the register, through the administration of elections".