asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a comprehensive statement on the general conduct and organisation of the recent local government and European elections, with specific references to areas of complaints including the disenfranchisement of many people by either omission from the register or failure to locate the correct polling station in their case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local and European Elections.
22.
The absence of normal postal services caused certain difficulties in the conduct of the Assembly and local elections. Despite these difficulties, the elections were conducted with a high degree of efficiency and I would like to take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the performance of the returning officers concerned.
Because of the absence of polling cards some electors experienced certain difficulty in ascertaining where they should vote but these were isolated instances and in the vast majority of cases no such difficulty arose.
As at previous elections, there were reports of errors in the register of electors and, where details were given, the reports are being investigated. At this stage I have no evidence to suggest that the register in any area was seriously defective. I should add that in the conduct of elections returning officers are independent authorities answerable only to the courts.
Leaving aside the ritual tributes—we seem to be up to our knees in them today—despite the Minister's answer does he agree that there was unprecedented confusion in the recent local government and European election? Many complaints were given to candidates of all parties on election day and since then and there was massive public dissatisfaction with many facets of the organisation of that campaign. Will the Minister accept that as a statement of fact?
Is the Deputy referring to polling stations, locations of the stations or to being left off the register?
To all of it.
With regard to polling cards, we went to much expense to advertise because of the postal strike. I admit there were difficulties but from my knowledge of the situation they were exaggerated grossly. There was one instance which I heard quoted publicly of a whole housing estate in Baldoyle being left off the register. The fact is the people were not housed in that estate when the electoral list was being compiled and therefore they could not have been on the electoral list for that area. There were these kinds of complaints; I am only giving that one instance.
With regard to the conduct of the election, that is the business of the returning officer. A voting scheme is set up by a local authority but the physical location of the polling station is the business of the returning officer. Admittedly there were complaints and people were entitled to complain. The movement of population in Dublin from one area to another area is quite common and it is bound to mean that people will not be too familiar with where they can vote. In many instances the parties were able to sort out the complaints to some extent by helping voters to find their polling stations.
The electoral list is revised every year. People are paid to do this. There is adequate advertising done to make people aware that they should ensure they are on the voters' list. The relevant date is 15 September. A draft register comes out in late November. People can still check at the local post office or Garda station whether they are on the draft register. The final exercise in compiling the voters' list is the revision courts which take place in February. Here the final decisions are made only where there are objections and occasionally people have to be added to the list. I would recommend to all political parties that they take an interest through their organisations in the compiling of the register, particularly when the draft register comes out. This would eliminate many of the complaints that people are not on the register. Many people do not bother to fill up the necessary form that is sent to their home each year. There are always complaints about the register. There could be a printer's error but that is very rare. The political parties have a definite role to play where the people who are paid to compile the register fall down on the job.
The Minister has raised many issues in his reply. I should like three specific answers. Will he tell the House how much money the Government spent on the advertising campaign? Will he state how many complaints he has received? Would the Minister be willing to ask the local authorities to submit reports to him on the conduct of the elections in their areas?
I would remind the Deputy that Question Time is over.
The whole object is that we do not have a repetition of this. We would not have a repetition if we had a national survey of the deficiencies in this case.
That does not apply.
While the returning officers may have done an excellent job, and to my knowledge have so done, is the Minister aware that the whole system whereby the lists are compiled and for which people are paid and which is supplemented by the voluntary work of political parties, is far from perfect and seems to be becoming more imperfect every year? Will the Minister look into the efficiency of the revision courts that are set for a particular time and place but do not take place? Further will he look into the question of whether there is collusion between some of the political parties and some of the revision court people? He will be hearing further in the courts about this in the very near future.
That is a long statement.
It may be long but the whole system is a scandal. If it is found that those who are paid to do the job are not doing it, why not make it a job for the political parties and let them take the credit or the blame for it instead of having it messed up the way it has been.
(Interruptions).
Order.
There were 27 under age in three places and there was the revision court that never took place.
That is a matter for the returning officer for that area. Any such complaints are a matter for the court where he is concerned under the electoral law. That is where it should go.
In view of what the Minister said about the political parties taking a greater part in the revision of the register, would the Minister conside arranging for the issue of the draft register at some time other than during the Christmas season when it is very difficult to get people to do this sort of work? Secondly, would the Minister consider giving a longer time to the political parties from the date of issue of the register to them——
We cannot have a debate on this matter. The time for questions has long passed.
With regard to the issue of the draft register, very little can be done with regard to issuing it later. The relevant date under the law for inclusion in the voters' list is 15 September. With regard to extending the time of the revision court, it may be worth having look at that matter—and I will have look at it—in order to give a greater span in between. With regard to some points made by Deputy Blaney, the usual people employed and paid to compile the electoral list were the rate collectors. That has always been the case. If they are not doing it efficiently there is a cure for that. The Garda Síochána have a function with regard to checking it and the people themselves have the function of filling in the necessary forms that come to each elector every year. If they do not they should, because the local council are obliged to ensure that all electors get the necessary envelopes. This is a function of the council.
May I ask the Minister——
We are not going to have a debate on the electoral system. It has gone on long after time. There is a Private Notice Question.
Surely I am entitled to ask a supplementary question?
The Deputy may be but the Chair will not permit any further questions.
As an elected representative I am entitled to ask a question. Due to the unsatisfactory state of the register——
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
(Interruptions).
Would the Minister consider employing people other than rate collectors or the Garda Síochána to compile the register due to the unsatisfactory state of the register?
I am calling Deputy O'Keeffe and Deputy Creed to read their Private Notice Question.
I asked the Minister a question.
I will consider any way that I think will improve the compiling of the register. As I have said, there are always complaints and if it can be improved on I will consider any other method.
There are always complaints because the Minister does not employ people specifically for the job.
I do not employ people. That is a matter for the local authority.
(Interruptions).
Order. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. I call on Deputy O'Keeffe or Deputy Creed to read the Private Notice Question.