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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Voter Turnout.

Liz McManus

Question:

49 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he intends to take to facilitate the maximum possible turnout of voters at the European and local elections on 11 June 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14370/99]

As I indicated in my replies to Question No. 685 of 27 January and Question No. 19 of 3 March 1999, I have taken a number of measures which I believe will help to facilitate a high turnout at this year's local and European elections. With a view to maximising turnout, I announced in 1998 that the local elections would be held in conjunction with the European elections on Friday, 11 June 1999. By giving advance notice of the polling day, greater awareness of the elections has been generated. The electorate will also vote on the 11 June in a referendum to decide whether or not to give constitutional recognition to local government and on the 4 May last, I established a referendum commission whose principal functions are to explain the subject matter of the referendum and to promote and facilitate debate and discussion on the proposal.

A publicity campaign on voter registration has also been undertaken by my Department and local authorities. It began in November 1998 by advising persons to check the draft 1999-2000 register of electors and highlighting the fact the register will be used for this year's elections. Newspaper articles were also placed to promote the supplement to the register, the supplement to the postal and special voters list and arrangements for voters with physical disabilities. In addition, my Department, in co-operation with the Union of Students in Ireland, published an information brochure on the registration process in January of this year targeted specifically at students. Copies of the leaflet have been distributed by USI to every college and institute of technology in the State.

I have attended a number of conferences this year, organised by the European Parliament office, where I have stressed the importance of increased voter turnout. In January, I attended a media seminar to publicise the European elections at which I emphasised the critical role the television, radio and print media would play in informing the public. More recently in April, I spoke at a conference on European democracy about the importance of the Parliament getting their message across to the general public about the relevance of the Parliament and the importance of the elections.

I am hopeful that a vigorous campaign by the political parties and the candidates, a well informed media debate on the issues together with the work of the referendum commission and the measures that I have taken will all go some way towards facilitating a good turnout in both elections and the referendum on the 11 June.

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