(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment the arrangements made or proposed for postal voting, polling cards and candidates' free postage rights in the forthcoming European Assembly Elections and local elections in view of the postal strike and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Election Arrangements.
15.
I would refer the Deputy to an order made by me on 10 May under section 92 of the Electoral Act, 1963, copies of which have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that the order referred to deals with postal voting and simply states that in addition to facilitating voting by post the returning officer may adopt such other method as he thinks fit; that in regard to polling cards the order simply states that in addition to the polling cards the returning officer may draw the notice of the public to the elections in such a way as he thinks fit; and does the Minister agree that it is good enough to amend an Act and the regulations and throw the procedure to the returning officer to do——
The Deputy is making a statement.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is not a statement. Will the Minister tell us what he proposes to do about the free postage for Euro-candidates in the absence of a postal service?
The Minister has answered the question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): He did not refer to the free postage.
As a result of the modification of the order, forms of receipt being issued to postal voters may be sent by post or in such other manner as the returning officer considers appropriate. A postal voter may deliver or send his ballot paper by post or in any other manner to the relevant returning officer, and a notice to this effect will be included with the other voting papers by the returning officer. Instead of sending a polling card to each elector, the returning officer may take such steps as he considers necessary to inform electors of the polling day and of the place at which each elector is entitled to vote. This could take the form of a newspaper advertisement or of a poster. As the Deputy knows, polling cards are not necessary and to inform people that they are not necessary is most important.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister please tell the House what alternative to postal facilities is he going to use for postal voting?
Postal voting?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Yes.
I have just informed the Deputy.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister said “such other methods as he thinks fit”. Surely there has been some consultation between the Minister and the returning officer and will the Minister let us in on the secret?
I understand that the Garda and the Army will be able to cope with this problem.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister tell us how? Up to now it was written in the regulations in black and white. Now it is going to be done in some way that is being kept a secret.
That is a statement.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I want the Minister to tell the House what he is going to substitute for the Post Office for postal voting.
I am satisfied it can be conducted by the two authorities concerned and I will wait to hear what arrangements they have made.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister has not bothered to see what is happening.
I have.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister tell us?
I am happy that, since they informed me that they will be able to cope, they will be able to cope.
Deputies may not rise in their places to argue. It is becoming increasingly difficult and to add insult to injury Deputies will blame the Chair because he brings to their attention the fact that they are completely out of order.
What is the position for candidates who are now officially nominated and who, in accordance with the Act, have rights to free postage to their electorates in the various constituencies? Has the Minister any proposals to enable every candidate to contact the electorate?
No.
In view of the fact that the postal voting will now be done by a different arrangement from that set out in the Act, on behalf of the candidates in the Labour Party, would it be possible to get details of the proposed arrangements for the postal voting?
Yes, it will.
Will it be possible for me as director of elections to get it?
Yes.
I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I have no doubt it will be done——
In view of the fact that the Minister is not able to ensure candidates' rights to free post and in view of the fact that he says that postal electors may post their ballot if they so wish, surely this is leaving the results of the election open to challenge in the courts. Will the Minister assure the House that steps will be taken to prevent that?
The Army and Garda have assured me that, with regard to postal votes, the arrangements they make will be adequate to cope with the situation.
Settle the strike.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The mess will be there for many a day.
On the question of the candidate's right to post literature to each elector, surely a candidate who is narrowly defeated could challenge the result of the ballot in the court and is the Minister taking any precautions to overcome that?
That is a separate question and the Minister should not attempt to answer.
If the Deputy can up with a way to overcome it——
Fix the postal strike.