asked the Minister for Local Government if he is considering holding polling on a Saturday in the forthcoming local government elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Government Elections.
15.
I am required by law to fix a day in the month of June as polling day for the forthcoming local elections. No decision has yet been made regarding the particular day or date of polling.
I would appeal to the Minister to tell us the date of the local elections. What is the point of keeping it a secret?
Will the Minister take into consideration that county registrars are allowing students to register at their home addresses and that it would be easier for students to do this at weekends rather than during the week?
If that is so the county registrars are doing it without the authority of the Department of Local Government. The Department have given instructions that, as usual, people should be registered in the area in which they are living.
I submit the Department cannot issue any direction on this matter, that the county registrar has the traditional function of interpreting the electoral law in this matter.