Michael Ring
Question:7 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider placing photographs on ballot papers in the forthcoming Cork North-Central and Cork South-Central by-elections. [2277/94]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Electoral Ballot Papers.
The Electoral Act, 1992, does not permit the inclusion of photographs on ballot papers at Dáil elections. I have no proposals to amend the law in this respect.
I am sure the Minister has received correspondence from a Mr. Ernie Sweeney who has been conducting a campaign to have photographs included on ballot papers for some considerable time. I am sure the Minister will be able to confirm that he has received support from the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. There is a substantial number of people who are unable to read. Does the Minister agree that the inclusion of photographs on ballot papers at election time would do away with the necessity to make special provision for illiterate voters which can be the source of great concern and interference? Does he consider that the by-elections in Cork present an ideal opportunity to include photographs of photogenic personalities on the ballot paper?
Bunny Carr will give the Minister a lesson.
Nominations close tomorrow and there is no question of introducing such a system without changing the law. When this matter was debated in the Seanad a few years ago, strong arguments were put forward against the inclusion of photographs on ballot papers. One of the main contentions was that well known personalities would have a decided advantage.
Like the Minister.
Other contributors suggested that people like the Deputy who are photogenic would also have an advantage.
I do not have a tie which is as nice as the Minister's but I am sure there is available in his Department a long list of organisations, including the trade unions, which support the inclusion of photographs on ballot papers. Some of these organisations have included photographs on ballot papers in internal elections. I am sure the Minister is aware that this is done in other countries to enable people who are illiterate to exercise their franchise. We are due to debate the Electoral Bill shortly. It will allow people cast their votes from abroad if an election is called while they are away.
Or at home.
Will the Minister consider amending that Bill to provide for the inclusion of photographs on election papers in the future?
I think the record will show that during the past few years some of the greatest electoral reform measures have been introduced in this House.
Agreed.
I would be happy to consider any other good proposals in the context of the Electoral Bill, including the one mentioned by the Deputy in his inspired contribution.
We should sell that part of the record.
Does the Minister agree that this proposal would greatly facilitate slow readers or those who cannot read and lead to the creation of greater interest in an election in that everyone would be able to identify the person they wished to vote for? During the Mayo by-election campaign I was contacted by Mr. Sweeney who has made a strong case. He succeeded in overcoming the problem on that occasion.
I repeat that I will try to accommodate that proposal in due course. On the question of increasing interest in elections. I only have experience of elections in north Tipperary and I do not know how it would be possible to create even greater interest there.
I am glad the Minister has had a change of heart and now has an open mind on this question.
Does he agree that the present system is degrading for those who are illiterate and puts many of them off from going to the polling booth to vote? There are communities, for example, travellers, with a higher than average rate of illiteracy. In effect they are disenfranchised unless they declare they are illiterate when they go to the polling station. Will the Minister accept the recommendation to include photographs on the ballot paper?
Only this week I made certain allocations for the first time to help local authorities cater for people with certain disabilities, special needs or disadvantage. We have to be open and all parties share that view. I appreciate that we have to do more to ensure the privacy of the voting procedure and we have to be concerned about other areas of activity where we can make things easier.
Will the Minister agree that where candidates have the same name the inclusion of a photograph would ease confusion? Do I understand from his previous statements that he agrees with this proposal, if so has he any intention of introducing legislation to give it effect?
It is clear, as this is the third contribution from the Fine Gael Party, that I have once again failed to communicate properly what we may do. On foot of Deputy Enda Kenny's suggestion, I said I was prepared to examine it. Earlier I said there were differing views about it but Members can look forward ultimately to provision being made for it. A change in the law will be required.
I thank the Minister for adopting an open approach. I assure him that we will present evidence that may convince him of our case. During the recent by-election I was present when the polling station was cleared, the presiding officer read out the list of names and the illiterate voter said, "ah well sure I will vote for de Valera again".
It shows how well we are able to sell the message.
Or how out-of-date the message is.