Research Programme
Section 64 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 sets out that An Coimisiún Toghcháin “may commission or conduct research on electoral policy and procedure, including on matters relating to the discharge of its functions…and may, arising from that research, make such recommendations to the Minister and the Government as it considers appropriate.”
It also provides that An Coimisiún Toghcháin prepare an annual Research Programme to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published.
In light of this, we published our first Draft Research Programme for public consultation in November 2023. A total of 62 submissions were received from members of the public, organisations and relevant stakeholders.
All submissions were carefully considered by An Coimisiún and its Research Advisory Group in finalising the Research Programme which was published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 10 July 2024. The Research Programme can be viewed below.
All queries and feedback pertaining to our Research Programme can be sent by email to research@electoralcommission.ie, or by post to Electoral Integrity and Research Unit, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, D02 X8X8.
Draft Research Programme
An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its first draft research programme on 10 November 2023 for public consultation. 62 submissions were received.
We were very impressed with the quality of these submissions and they have influenced the approach set out in the final Research Programme which was published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 10 July.
Election Postering Request for Quotation
In July 2024, An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its first Research Programme outlining its research priorities for the coming three years after an open public consultation process. One of the priorities for 2024 is to commission research on election postering with a view to making recommendations to the Minister and Government on the topic.
Interested researchers are encouraged to carefully consider and follow the RfQ requirements when completing their application. As mentioned in the RFQ inter-disciplinary applications being particularly welcomed.
Completed applications should be sent by the principal investigator to research@electoralcommission.ie by 3pm Friday January 17 2024. The deadline for queries is 3pm Friday 10 January 2024.
Research Advisory Group (RAG)
On 23 February 2024 An Coimisiún Toghcháin announced the establishment of a Research Advisory Group, a diverse and expert group set-up to support An Coimisiún in delivering the research proposed in the draft Research Programme 2024-2026. In the interest of transparency, the minutes of the meetings from 5 March 2024 onward are published below.