asked the Minister for Local Government what arrangements were made to enable the staff of Irish Embassies abroad to vote at the recent general election.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voting Arrangements for Embassy Staffs.
42.
As the Deputy is aware, the law provides that, apart from members of the Garda Síochána and of the Defences Forces, electors must attend in person at the polling stations assigned to them at general elections. I have no power to make special voting arrangements for the staffs of Irish Embassies serving abroad.
If that is so, would the Minister say how the Defence Forces, even those who were abroad, were able to vote?
It is provided for by law.
Does the Minister not consider that the staffs of our Embassies abroad, who are becoming more numerous, are entitled to vote in Irish elections?
Not according to law.
It is about time the law was changed.
The Joint Committee on the Electoral Law considered the matter and recommended that postal voting should not be extended.
I thought that the Minister was an independently minded man.
So the staff of the Irish Embassies abroad are not Irishmen when it comes to electing Deputies?
There are many other categories of people who could be considered. If all were given the facility we would have up to 20 per cent or more of the electorate voting by letter and the danger of abuse would be very considerably increased.
Would the Minister say if he is aware of how many other nations debar their Embassy staffs from voting in general elections?
We do not debar them.
You prevent them. Surely the Minister does not expect them to come home to vote?
We do not provide postal voting facilities. It would not be easy to guard against abuse in extending the facilities in the way the Deputies appear to want it.
In view of the Minister's cursory attitude, will he say if he has any particular sympathy towards Embassy staffs who have not the the opportunity of voting and will he say if he is prepared to consider representations in this matter?
I have sympathy towards anybody who is unable to vote.