andMr. Davern asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that commercial travellers are often away from home on polling day and consequently cannot vote, and if he will extend the system of postal voting to all members of the profession so that they may not be denied their constitutional right to vote.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extension of Postal Vote.
41.
I have received representations from time to time requesting that postal voting, which is confined by law to members of the Garda Síochána and the Defences Forces, be extended to persons, including commercial travellers, whose occupations require them to be away from home for the greater part of the week. This matter was, however, considered by the Joint Committee on the Electoral Law which recommended in its Final Report, dated 12th July, 1961, against any further extension of these facilities on the grounds that the greatly increased risk of abuse would not be justified.
As I have already indicated in replies to previous questions on this subject the introduction of legislation to extend postal voting facilities is not proposed.
Is it not a fact that we on this side of the House brought in a Private Member's Bill asking for a postal vote for commercial travellers and that the Minister's predecessor said that he was not at that time agreeing to this because he was considering legislation that would cover a wider range of people, including those at sea? It was said that this would be done within a year's time but we have never heard about it since.
I am not aware of this.
The Fine Gael Party are at sea.