We debated this in great detail on Committee Stage and we went through the arguments of both sides of the House. I am not accepting Deputy Fitzpatrick's amendment on this matter. The feasibility of the arrangements proposed in the Bill have never been in any doubt, and Deputy Fitzpatrick's proposal is workable too. It would be difficult to say otherwise in view of the examples given of the successful manner in which operations such as the one proposed in the Bill has been carried out over a number of years. One example given was a general election in the Dublin area involving nine constituencies and an electorate of 100,000 people. Another example was the poll on Northern Ireland on the Border which involved an electorate of over 1,000,000 people and 600 polling stations.
European Assembly Elections (No. 2) Bill, 1977: Report Stage (Resumed).
Debate resumed on amendment No. 19:
In page 29, to delete lines 43 to 45, and substitute the following paragraph:
"(4) The local returning officer shall appoint a place within or convenient to the constituency as the place at which he will open the ballot boxes and arrange the ballot papers in parcels as hereinafter provided and shall at that place so appointed provide suitable accommodation and all furniture and equipment necessary for opening the ballot boxes and arranging of the ballot papers in parcels as aforesaid.".
—(Deputy T. J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan).)
(Cavan-Monaghan): What was the electorate in the North?
Over 1,000,000 people. On the arguments in relation to transport and security, one way or another every ballot paper will have to be transported to a central polling station even when the first count has taken place at local counting areas. That point had to be accepted, as it was conceded that the main point was in relation to the size of the load involved.
In relation to security I made the point that common-sense dictated that it would be far easier to provide security for a few days at one central point in the constituencies, as is proposed, rather than at possibly 11 different centres throughout the country over the same number of days.
Debate adjourned.
Business suspended at 1.30 p.m. and resumed at 2.30 p.m.