asked the Minister for Local Government if it is in conformity with the Electoral Acts for a voter to be questioned in the precincts of the polling booth regarding his registration number by workers of any Party.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polling Booth Registration Inquiries.
10.
There is no specific provision in the Electoral Acts under which the practice in question would be unlawful and, of course, there is no obligation on an intending voter to answer any questions put to him by an election worker regarding his registration number.
Is the Minister aware that in the recent by-election in Wicklow members of his Party sat in the precincts of the booth entrances and asked electors their registered number?
I am aware that members of my Party did their best to frustrate the organised personation by the Fine Gael and Labour Parties.
We will not go into that.
Would the Minister indicate by what authority ministerial cars, the property of the people, carried Fianna Fáil election slogans and posters during the recent by-elections?
That is a separate question.
I do not think it was done.
Did the Minister say it was not done?
It was not, and Deputy T.F. O'Higgins knows it was not either.
I can assure the Minister I saw it myself. I saw it in Ennistymon—the car of the Minister for Justice.
I completely contradict that. It has just been made up on the spot now. Deputy Sweetman said it the last time and it is your turn to say it now. It did not happen either time.
I saw it in the presence of a Senator and other witnesses.
You dreamed it.
It is wrong, and you know it is wrong and you know it was done by a very silly man who does not know the difference between right and wrong.