asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding a reply to Deputy Gay Mitchell on 18 July 1984 in his name regarding the employment of persons in polling stations at election time; and if he will consider taking powers to ensure that returning officers are compelled to give preference for employment to unemployed persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polling Station Personnel.
11.
Prior to the European Assembly elections and referendum last June, I asked returning officers to employ unemployed persons as election staff wherever possible. I will continue to press this view in the future. However, statutory responsibility for the conduct of elections and referenda, and for making the necessary arrangements including employment of staff, rests with the appropriate returning officers. There are important principles reflected in this system and, while I am in sympathy with the Deputy's objective, I would not favour returning officers being made subject to outside direction in matters affecting the conduct of elections. I have no proposals, therefore, to amend the relevant statutory provisions.
I recognise that returning officers have a certain independence, but is the Minister aware that many unemployed persons are scandalised by the fact that people in permanent, paid, pensionable employment are being employed in polling stations in what have now become annual elections? Will he take steps to ensure that the returning officers are compelled to give priority to some of the 215,000 unemployed?
I am sympathetic with the Deputy's view. We have asked the returning officers to do that. If we were to direct operations for returning officers we would be taking on their responsibilities and if things went wrong, where would the responsibility lie? We are talking about a very serious matter — elections. I will continue to ask returning officers to employ some of those who are at present unemployed. That is as far as I am prepared to go.
Is the Minister aware that many unemployed people would be able to carry out many of the tasks in polling stations? Would he consider compelling returning officers to give priority to such people? I am not saying they have to engage them in every case, but they could be given priority. Many people are scandalised——
That is an argument. A question, please.
——that people in paid, permanent, pensionable employment are working in polling stations while the unemployed cannot get this work. Will the Minister take every step possible to compel the returning officers to engage these people?
I will take every step possible but I can only make a request. I sympathise with the Deputy but serious problems can arise with regard to elections and the returning officers must have discretion about who they will employ.