I move amendment No. 74:
In page 44, subsection (2), line 4, after "number" to insert "(being at least a minimum number to be prescribed)".
In this amendment we are suggesting that provision be made for the appointment of a minimum number of agents for candidates to be present in polling stations at the issue of ballot papers to postal voters and particularly at the opening of ballot boxes and the counting of votes. In my experience in rural constituencies things seem to be fairly free and easy in as much as anybody who wants to get into the count seems to be able to do so. That certainly has been my experience of elections that were held in County Clare. In Dublin the situation seems to be much more restricted and I would be concerned that the returning officer would have complete discretion as to the number of agents for each candidate who would be allowed into the count and to be present at the opening of ballot boxes. I would like to see provision being made for a minimum number of agents, perhaps ten, to be present. Otherwise the whole operation could become very restrictive.
It is a very important part of the whole political process that agents are present during the counting of votes so that they can have as detailed a knowledge as possible of where the votes came from; indeed, that greatly helps the political process in as much as it allows politicians to understand what were and what were not important issues in different parts of their constituencies. For those reasons I ask the Minister to consider making an order specifying a minimum number of people to be allowed in for each candidate at the count; I would suggest the figure five. I understand that numbers must be controlled because space may be limited and that varies from constituency to constituency and from counting centre to counting centre. I would be concerned that some returning officers may be excessively restrictive of the number of people allowed in.