asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will take steps to ensure that unemployed persons are given first preference in appointments as presiding officers and poll clerks at all future Dáil and local elections; and if he will indicate why unemployed persons have not been up to this considered for such posts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Selection of Election Officers.
The course the Deputy suggests has been fully examined in the past and effect given thereto as far as practicable. But it has to be borne in mind that returning officers at Dáil and local elections are personally responsible, under pain of heavy costs, for the conduct of the elections, and in appointing persons to assist them in the holding of elections they must be left discretion as to the competency of such persons. Presiding officers at elections have specified statutory duties to perform and failure to carry out those duties properly might invalidate an election. Any wilful or grossly negligent act would render the person concerned liable to prosecution in a court of summary jurisdiction and subject to a fine not exceeding £100. It would not be possible therefore to lay down any regulation that unemployed persons, as such, must be given preference in appointments as presiding officers. The same standard of responsibility does not apply to poll clerks as to presiding officers, and in the more recent instructional circulars issued to returning officers at times of elections they have been advised to give preference in the appointment of poll clerks to unployed persons who are members of the L.D.F., L.S.F. and A.R.P. services, who would be able effectively to carry out the duties of poll clerk.