Far-reaching reforms of our democratic system, including the automatic registration of voters, the introduction of political education at school level and the establishment of equal gender quotas for election candidates, have been proposed by an independent Democracy Commission. Low participation rates in elections by marginalised communities and young people should, it suggests, be addressed through a statutory electoral commission in order to encourage public awareness and participation in the democratic process.
There is no denying the commission's finding that the Government and Oireachtas do not reflect the composition of our society and that elected members are overwhelmingly male and middle-class. But any change is likely to be slow and difficult, with established politicians resisting developments that would threaten their own positions and the status quo.
In spite of that, the report by this all-island body, funded by the Rowntree Trust and chaired by Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary David Begg, represents a useful exercise in identifying the structural and administrative weaknesses of our democracy and pointing the way towards a more inclusive, participatory and egalitarian system.
Democratic participation, education and empowerment do not stop with the Oireachtas, however, and the commission devoted considerable space to other powerful institutions and commercial enterprises. It identified a threat to diversity of views within the print media because Independent News and Media fully or partially owns some 80 per cent of Irish newspapers. It regarded this situation as "a cause of great concern". And it called for remedial action, noting that a cap of 17.9 per cent was recently imposed on radio ownership by the Government. On accountability, it favoured the appointment of an independent press ombudsman and a press council with statutory protection.
The explosive growth in the number of non-departmental State bodies within the past 10 years was largely unplanned and the commission found that it raised issues of accountability and freedom from influence and patronage. It recommended that the Standards in Public Office Commission should draft guidelines for all future appointments and that top positions should be subjected to Oireachtas scrutiny.
In the same way, the Oireachtas should ratify the appointment of chairmen to commercial State bodies in future. The commission went on to criticise the growing powers of county and city managers and to urge the direct election of mayors. It also advocated the devolution of new functions to elected representatives, along with a tax-raising function.
There are many challenging recommendations in this report, all of them designed to make our society stronger and more equal. They should be given careful consideration in the greater interest of a participatory democracy.