Press release
An Coimisiún Toghcháin (The Electoral Commission) is formally established on a statutory footing
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan have welcomed the formal establishment of An Coimisiún Toghcháin (the Electoral Commission) on a statutory footing today (9 February), paving the way for the Commission to begin its work as an independent body.
Both Ministers have also welcomed the appointment of the Hon. Ms. Justice Marie Baker to the role of An Coimisiún Toghcháin’s Chairperson. Her appointment to the role of Chairperson completes An Coimisiún’s seven-person membership, following the appointment of four ordinary members in December 2022. The Clerk of the Dáil and the Ombudsman will sit as ex officio members of An Coimisiún.
Minister O’Brien said:
“I wish to congratulate Justice Baker on her appointment as Chairperson of An Coimisiún Toghcháin. She will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to this significant role in the operation and safeguarding of our democratic processes.
"I urge the public to engage with the important, upcoming work of the Commission in protecting and modernising our electoral landscape.”
An Coimisiún Toghcháin is independent of Government, reporting directly to the Oireachtas and will be central to the administration, development and protection of our democratic processes and institutions.
The establishment of An Coimisiún Toghcháin is a commitment in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future and follows from the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún Toghcháin will carry out a broad range of core existing electoral functions, including explaining to the public the subject matter of referendums; reviewing Dáil Éireann and European Parliament constituencies and local electoral area boundaries and the preparation and maintenance of the Register of Political Parties. It will also carry out a number of new functions including research on electoral policy, the regulation of online political advertising and protecting the integrity of elections.
Minister Noonan said:
“An Coimisiún Toghcháin will be at the international cutting edge of electoral reform, particularly with respect to its significant powers and responsibilities in protecting our electoral system and processes in the online space – an area of growing concern. I’m particularly pleased that it will also have a role in researching the barriers to participation experienced by marginalised and disenfranchised groups, and in communicating impartial, reliable information to everyone, including hard to reach groups. The establishment of the Commission marks a milestone in the reform and modernisation of our electoral system. Ireland is known for the high democratic standard of its electoral processes and today’s announcement ensures that this will remain the case into the future.”
An Coimisiún Toghcháin is independent of Government, reporting directly to the Oireachtas and will be central to the administration, development and protection of our democratic processes and institutions.
It will take on a broad range of core existing electoral functions, including:
(a) explaining to the public the subject matter of referendums;
(b) reviewing Dáil Éireann and European Parliament constituencies and local electoral area boundaries;
(c) the preparation and maintenance of the Register of Political Parties
It will carry out a range of new electoral roles, including:
(a) conducting research on electoral policy and procedure and making; recommendations to the Minister, thereby influencing the evolution of our electoral system;
(b) providing the public with information on electoral processes (including referenda) and encouraging participation in the electoral and democratic processes of the State;
(c) overseeing the management of the electoral register;
(d) reporting on how electoral events are administered;
(e) regulating online political advertising; and
(f) protecting the integrity of elections and referendums against online disinformation, misinformation and manipulative or inauthentic behaviour
Ms. Justice Baker was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 2019.
She was born in Co. Wicklow but lived for most of her childhood in County Cork and was educated in St. Mary's High School, Midleton, Co. Cork, University College Cork (M.A, Philosophy and B.C.L.) and the Honorable Society of King's Inns (B.L.).
Ms. Justice Baker was called to the Bar in 1984 and was called to the Inner Bar in 2004. She practiced in the Cork and Munster circuits. Her primary practice areas included land law and conveyancing, general chancery, family law and commercial law.
She is an accredited mediator.
Ms. Justice Baker has previously lectured on contract and commercial law in Dublin City University (formerly known as the National Institute of Further Education).
In 2014, she was appointed as a part-time Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission. She was a member of the advisory study group on pre-nuptial agreements which reported to Government in April 2007.
In 2014. she was appointed a judge of the High Court and was assigned to the non-jury and judicial review lists. She was the judge in charge of the personal insolvency list and the non-contentious probate list from 2014 until her appointment to the Court of Appeal.
Upon its coming into effect in May 2018, Ms. Justice Baker was appointed as the assigned judge for the purposes of the applicability of the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of the supervision of data processing operations of the courts when acting in their judicial capacity.
John Curran, Maura Quinn, Alex Attwood and Caroline Fennell are the Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
Mr. Curran has served as a Minister of State, a TD, and as a local authority member. He will bring this political and administrative experience to An Coimisiún. He also brings expertise in political campaigning.
Ms. Quinn will provide An Coimisiún with the benefit of her expertise in corporate governance, regulatory affairs and financial matters. She has over 25 years’ experience as a chief executive across a range of sectors.
Mr. Attwood is a former MLA for West Belfast, and has experience as an agent, campaign manager, fundraiser and party chairperson in Northern Ireland. As a member of the UK Electoral Commission, he brings international experience of the administration and regulation of electoral systems.
Prof. Fennell has worked at a senior level in academia and is a Professor Emerita of Law in University College Cork. She also has a significant background in human rights issues, governance and accountability, including as a current member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.