The Government is taking the first steps to establishing an electoral commission - but it will not be in place for the next general election.

The Commission would take control of managing the electoral register and would decide on whether electronic voting should be used.

An Oireachtas Committee is to make recommendations and the Environment Minister will then draft legislation.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly described the decision to proceed as "a momentous occasion"

“It’s an important day for politics and the way in which our country is run. This is one of the most fundamental things when it comes to our democracy.”

However, Mr Kelly says he won't have time to get it in place before the next election.

“I would hope that it will be in pace for the next European and Local elections. On average electoral commissions take three of four years to actually get into place,” Mr Kelly said.

“It’s my ambition to set up the legislation And if time allows to even bring in the legislation but there is a process of implementation straight afterwards that does take a couple of years when it comes to the electoral register process, when it comes to merging a whole range of different functions,” he said,” he added.

The Environment Minister says it won't be in place for the next election as it could take three to four years to set up.