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Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 2 Feb 1945

Vol. 95 No. 16

Electoral (Dáil Eireann and Local Authorities) Bill, 1945—Second and Subsequent Stages.

I move that the Bill be read a Second Time.

This Bill is a very simple measure. Deputies will already have seen that the object of it is to alter the date for the coming into force of the Electors' Register and to alter the date upon which citizens of the State who exercise the franchise are deemed to be qualified to take part in either Dáil Éireann or local government elections. Practically all Deputies in the House are aware of the present regulations in regard to the maintenance and revision of the register, but I would remind those Deputies who have come here more recently that the present regulations have their legislative origin in the Electoral Act, 1923, and the Local Government (Electors Registration) Act, 1924, which provided for the keeping of a register and which delimited the period during which that register was to be revised and stated the period at which the new register each year came into force.

It has become customary for some time past to hold general elections in the month of June, or thereabouts, and apart from unforeseen conditions of a political character, it is likely that this custom will continue in the future. The reasons for this practice are not far to seek. June is a month when the weather is propitious, or likely to be propitious; the days are long and, from the standpoint of the agricultural community, it is the period between the sowing season and harvest. Apart from the question of general elections, under the Local Government Elections Act, 1927, provision was made for holding local government elections at the end of June every three years and, therefore, the Bill is based on the general conception that it is likely that a number of elections will be held in the future in the month of June, or thereabouts.

The Government has received a number of representations during past years that if the register comes into force on June 1st the time is insufficient for returning officers to make the necessary preparations for an election if it comes shortly after that period. Many of the preparations made by returning officers can only be commenced when the register has been printed and is legally in force. Representations have also been made that candidates have had insufficient time and that organisations which these candidates represent have had insufficient time to make due and efficient election arrangements, again when the election is held some time shortly after June 1st.

The Government has given heed to these representations; the Government considers them reasonable and, accordingly, they have proposed, in this Bill, that in future the date upon which the new register comes into force shall be April 15th, instead of June 1st. They have consequentially advanced the date upon which persons are qualified to vote. That date has been altered from November 15th to September 15th.

There are only two important sections in the Bill, the remainder being consequential amendments of a drafting character. Sections 2 and 4 amend the Acts now in operation and make provision for the alterations in the dates which I have already indicated. Section 5 alters the statutory periods for the different stages in the preparation of the register. Obviously, if the date for the coming into force of the register is advanced, the dates for carrying out the various stages in preparing and revising the register must also be amended. These dates cover the publishing of the first list known as the long list of provisional electors; the date for receiving objections; the date for receiving claims; the date for publishing claims; the date for receiving objections to claims, and the date for the final revision of the register. There are no changes of importance in the incidence of those dates, with two exceptions. A period of two weeks extra has been provided in between the hearing of the claims and the final revision of the register. This will be convenient in making a final check of the register and in arranging for printing. There has also been a slight alteration in one of the dates in order to allow for the change in the incidence of the Christmas vacation. Deputies who represent rural constituencies will appreciate that if this Bill comes into force those whose duty it is to prepare the electors' list will be able to do their work at the end of September and during the month of October, again when the weather is more propitious and when the days are longer. Deputies who represent city areas will, I feel quite sure, appreciate the value of this Bill, which will give returning officers and candidates alike very much needed facilities for making sure that their work is well done and well prepared.

It is not intended to apply this measure to the register which comes into force this year and, if this Bill becomes law, the first register affected will be that which will come into force in 1946. In that year the register will come into force on April 15th, instead of June 1st. I hope I have made the position clear to the House and I trust the Bill will have a sympathetic hearing.

The only point I wish to make is that while the date at which the register comes into effect is to be advanced from June 1st to April 15th, the qualifying date for voters is advanced by two months. Is it necessary that there should be that difference?

That was done deliberately in order to give an extra two weeks in between the hearing of the claims and the final revision of the register, in order that the list could be checked more expeditiously and in order that more time could be given to the final printing of the register. That was done quite deliberately, again with a view to facilitating the preparation of the register.

It is not creating expedition.

I used the wrong term —in order to create efficiency, shall we say, and careful work.

Question put and agreed to.

When is it proposed to take the Committee Stage?

Would the House object if the remaining stages of the Bill were taken now?

There would not be any objection to going through the Committee Stage now, provided it is not regarded as a precedent.

Agreed to take remaining stages now.

Bill put through Committee and reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.

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