asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will request returning officers to give priority to applications of men with Army, L.D.F. or L.S.F. service and women with Red Cross service for the positions of presiding officers and polling clerks at the coming elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Election Appointments.
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 Presidential and local elections are personally responsible, under pain of heavy penalties, for the conduct of the elections, and in appointing persons to assist them in the holding of elections they must be left full 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 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 instructional circular issued to returning officers in connection with the forthcoming Presidential and local elections they are requested to give preference in the appointment of poll clerks to unemployed persons who are members of the L.D.F. L.S.F., A.R.P. and Red Cross services who would be able effectively to carry out the duties of poll clerk.