asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange for the issue of the draft register of electors at a time more suitable than immediately before Christmas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Register of Electors.
20.
The question of the dates to be prescribed for the various stages in the preparation of the register of electors was considered by a Joint Committee of the Dáil and Seanad on Electoral Law set up in 1960. The dates prescribed for the various stages in the preparation of the register are substantially those recommended by the Committee in its second Interim Report dated 15th March, 1961.
I would not be inclined to take steps towards changing the present arrangements unless there were a clear overall advantage to be gained from doing so. Having regard to the fact that the period within which the register may be inspected extends over a period of more than six weeks I do not think that the fact that it includes the Christmas period should cause any significant problems.
Is the Minister aware that at least in Dublin the register is ready early in December, that by the time it is put together in the different corporation areas it has approached mid-December, and that the register is not issued until after mid-December, which is not an appropriate time—just coming up to Christmas—for people to visit houses to try to check it? Is the Minister aware that, although a six-week period may be allowed in theory, in practice there is only a fortnight in which the register can be checked? Would the Minister consider having it changed to some other time of the year?
What the Deputy says is as he knows it to be, but it is entirely contrary to the regulations which lay down that the draft register of electors should be published on 1st December and that the last day for making claims is normally the 15th of January. This year I have asked the registration authorities to ensure that people are not left off because they made their claims late for one reason or another. If Deputy Belton feels that Dublin Corporation are not carrying out the regulations, I will have the matter investigated to find out why they are not doing so. Before 1963, regulations were made so that the inspection of the register was from the 24th of November to the 22nd of December. That was not a suitable date and the recommendations made after an inquiry had been held are embodied in the regulations now laid down. They are working reasonably well. There were complaints that some people were left off but we can never get them substantiated.
Is the Minister aware that, although the register for all intents and purposes may be ready at the beginning of December, it must be bound into the different corporation areas and in an area such as Dublin by the time it is complete a week or more of December has gone?
The publication of the draft register should be on the 1st of December. The corporation should make appropriate regulations to ensure that the binding and so on is done before that date. If this is not being done I will have the matter investigated.
Would the Minister agree that a week or two before Christmas, and possibly the same length after Christmas, is a very inappropriate time to call on houses to check the register? While in theory we have six weeks, in practice we have only less than half of that.
I do not know whether this is a strong argument or not. Most people do not have to check registers. People who are making a complaint usually check the register from their own knowledge, and from knowledge of their associates and therefore there would not be any necessity to call to houses for the purpose of checking the accuracy of the register.
Surely the Minister will agree that, while in rural Ireland there may not be a great need, in a place like Dublin, where there is a moving population, it is practically impossible to check it other than by calling from door to door?
I was under the impression that the checking was to be done by people who are paid to do the job and that the only check on the published draft register would be done by people interested in politics. Mainly the draft register is reasonably accurate. From time to time mistakes are made. As of now, there is no proposal to change it; but if a strong case is made to have it changed I assume we would have a further Joint Committee of the two Houses to go into it.
We have dwelt at some length on this question. This must be a final supplementary.
Would the Minister agree that Dublin presents a different problem to that of rural Ireland?
I would imagine that Dublin would be easier than rural Ireland.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the fact that many landlords deliberately fail to include the names of lodgers and flat dwellers for the draft register of electors; and the action he proposes to take to remedy this abuse.
While instances of the type mentioned may possibly arise there is no evidence in my Department that such a practice is in any way prevalent.
It is for the registration authorities to ensure that the register of electors is as accurate as is humanly possible and I have in successive circular letters reminded them of their duties in this regard. I do not think that any further action on my own part is called for.
I would also mention that the Electoral Act, 1963, provides that any person who fails to give information to a registration authority or county registrar after having been duly required to do so, or gives false information, shall be guilty of an offence. Persons acting in the manner referred to by the Deputy would, therefore, leave themselves open to prosecution.
Is the Minister aware that it is quite a common practice for landladies not to divulge the people who are staying in their houses because they have let bed-sitters and so on and have not received planning permission and so they are afraid that, if they divulge the names of the people staying in their houses, their valuations will be increased and their rates likewise increased?
That may be so but after the last general election complaints were received as to non-inclusion in the electoral registers from five persons in the Dublin area and, on investigation, in only one of these cases was there a possibility of deliberate omission. It is, of course, open to the lodger or the flat dweller to examine the register. These people get the same notification as everybody else. I do not know a great deal about the situation but the evidence so far is that this is not done on a widespread scale.
Is the Minister aware that, despite the fact that this is fairly widely publicised, quite a number of people never think of it until the day of the election and is he aware that on that day it is quite common for people to call at a polling station and find their names are not on the register despite the fact that they have been resident in the area for a number of years at particular addresses?
The only evidence I have is that after the last general election five people complained and of those five only one would fall into the category referred to by the Deputy.
Question No. 22 postponed.