LOCAL AUTHORITIES should lose control over electoral registers in an attempt to avoid serious mistakes, errors and fraud on the voters' list, an Oireachtas committee is to recommend.
In a yet-to-be-completed report, the Oireachtas Environment, Heritage and Local Government Committee questioned the priority local councils give to the responsibility.
Currently, 34 local councils are legally obliged to update the electoral register, though serious problems have emerged with its accuracy in recent years.
"Running elections is not a core function of local authorities. Indeed, it is not a function that appears to demand attention every year.
"It can, therefore, be questioned if it gets the priority it warrants among the array of authorities," the TDs and Senators found.
During its investigation, the Oireachtas committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil Laois-Offaly TD, Seán Fleming, looked at the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission, which now keeps one of the world's most accurate registers.
There, voters are legally obliged to register, following action in 2002 when it was found "abuse was rampant". Voting numbers did fall initially, but have since recovered.
In the Republic, however, the committee found that "serious errors" occur because of "the lack of priority afforded" by councils to the task, and a wide variety of practices.
"No central authority is responsible for electoral operations around the country," said the committee, which blamed mistakes, omissions and fraud for the problems.
The committee said legislation would be required if PPS numbers sanctioned by the Department of Social Affair were to be used by people as proof of identity when they are registering.
Department officials told the committee that the numbers could be used, but "privacy issues must be overcome" since information given to one department cannot be shared with others.
A common PPS number "may not be used to extract personal information" under the Data Protection Act without consent, the committee was told.
The issue could be resolved if those registering gave consent for their PPS to be used, particularly if they had legal guarantees that the numbers would not be published.
In its recommendations, the draft report favours the creation of a national electoral office under a single head, who "would be answerable to the Dáil, and not to the government". The head should have the freedom to hire his/her own staff, and not be a member of the Civil Service, and should enjoy the same tenure as a judge "to promote independence from government and deliver greater allegiance from political parties".
An Post should be able to help and advise the national electoral office on those moving house, etc, while the General Register Office should advise about deaths.
"Health authorities, medical practitioners, housing executives, tax offices and local authorities could all work together to keep the register updated on a continual basis."
However, the committee does not favour compulsory registration for all adults, as happens in Northern Ireland. Those who fail to do so in the North can face a £1,500 fine.
The public should be able to update their voting details all year round, rather than during "a brief window every November", as happens now.
In a statement on Tuesday, Labour Cork South Central TD Ciarán Lynch said the voters' register could be revamped as part of upcoming local government reforms.
"Reform should be about creating better efficiencies and the delivery of services. In 2006 and 2007, €6 million was thrown at the problem in a bid to improve the current register, but to little avail.
"In comparison, the Northern Ireland register, which is acknowledged as one of the most accurate in world, operates on £2.5 million per year."
