asked the Minister for Justice if he will state how many cases of personation were reported on voting day in the recent by-election for Galway South and what action was taken, in each case; further, if he will state whether reports of personation on a large scale reached the Gardaí authorities on the close of the poll; and, if so, whether he will consideroffering rewards to citizens who report cases of personation in future so as to end this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Personation in South Galway By-Election.
Only one case of personation was reported on polling day and a prosecution and conviction resulted. Two cases were reported after polling day. A prosecution and conviction resulted in one case, but in the other the law officers directed that there should be no prosecution because there was no evidence of criminal intent and the alleged offence appeared to be due to a confusion of names. The other parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.
Might I ask in this connection whether, after polling day, the Minister was given reliable information that votes running into dozens were cast in the names of people who were dead and in the names of a number of people in England?
Mr. Boland
I have answered the question. Two cases were reported.
There were about 52 and you know it very well. You stopped the proceedings in some cases.
Might I ask the Minister whether he is aware of the fact that there was an instance of this kind?
There were about 200 instances.
There was actually a conviction and the culprit was the wife of a civil servant who voted on the advice of the Fine Gael sub-agent in the district.
About 500 people voted Fianna Fáil. It was all personation. There was wholesale personation in Galway.
Question No: 49.
Is it not a fact that the Commissioner of the Garda has given instructions that no officer is to make a statement to the Press?
Mr. Boland
The Deputy is not the commissioner.
I have asked the Minister to know if the Commissioner of the Garda——
That does not arise out of the question.
With all respect, it does. It arises out of Deputy McQuillan's question, No. 50.
I called Question No. 49. I have not called Question No. 50 at all yet.
It is no harm to ask the Minister in advance anyway.
Relevant questions should be asked.