Fifth Meeting - 5Pm on 10Th July 2018 Private Dining Room, Leinster House
Fifth Meeting - 5pm on 10th July 2018 Private Dining Room, Leinster House In attendance: Chair Senator Michael McDowell SC, Senator Alice Mary Higgins, Senator Fintan Warfield, Senator Gabrielle McFadden, Senator Grace O’Sullivan, Senator Ivana Bacik, Senator Jerry Buttimer, Senator Maria Byrne, Senator Paddy Burke, Secretariat, Department of the Taoiseach: Síle de Búrca, Elizabeth Lyne Invited Experts: Franchise Section DHPLG (Fiona Quinn, Barry Ryan, Mairead Ryan), Dr. Maurice Manning, Mr. Joe O’Toole Apologies Dr. Brian Hunt, Jack Chambers TD, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, Shane Cassells TD, Shane Ross TD, Tommy Broughan TD Minutes 1. Minutes from 4th meeting agreed with 1 minor amendment. 2. The Chair introduced the invited experts: Franchise Section DHPLG, Dr Manning and Mr. O’Toole. 3. The Franchise Section discussed work underway on electoral reform including the forthcoming referendum on presidential elections and the Programme for Government commitment on the establishment of an Electoral Commission. While it was acknowledged that the role of the Franchise section on Seanad Elections is limited, it was noted there is strong potential for cross-over with the Group’s work. It was advised there is considerable benefit to ensuring proposals developed by the Group are transferable and modular to the other proposed electoral reforms. 4. It was agreed by all present that the Group’s final recommendations and legislation should be produced in alignment with the Franchise Section’s work. With this in mind, the Chair will ask Brian Hunt to draft a modular bill that could be enacted in parts. 5. Both Dr Manning and Mr O’Toole contributed their expertise and experience throughout discussions, particularly in respect of discussion on voluntary registration processes, the security of online voting versus postal voting, and implementation timeframes.
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