asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that all the pencils provided in polling booths for marking ballot papers on polling day, 28th June, 1967, were British made, while there is a pencil factory of international repute making top quality pencils in Fermoy town, County Cork; and why British pencils were used.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - British Made Pencils in Polling Booths.
19.
Returning officers at local elections have the responsibility of providing such materials as they consider necessary to enable voters to mark their ballot papers. I understand that pencils specially designed for the marking of ballot papers and of a type not manufactured in this country which formed part of the stock carried over from previous elections were used at a small number of polling booths at the recent local elections. As these foreign pencils are used up they are replaced by ordinary pencils of Irish manufacture.