asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange that polling on islands in respect of the 1974 local elections will take place on Friday, 14th June.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Elections Polling.
19.
In accordance with electoral law it is the function of the returning officer for the local electoral area concerned to make the appropriate arrangements for the taking of the poll on islands at local elections.
Has any suggested date been given by the Minister to the returning officers who have islands in their electoral areas?
No, because the returning officer is the only person who can decide if there is any reason for holding the poll on a date earlier than the date fixed. As Deputy Molloy himself said, helicopters are not now inhibited by seas and high winds and the difficulties that existed in the past in relation to the removal of ballot boxes no longer exist. I think we had better leave the matter to the returning officers.
Would the Minister not agree that the gap between the last day for applying for a ballot paper and the date of the election is too long? Many people could become indisposed in the meantime.
That is a separate question.