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Election Management System.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Questions (532, 533, 534, 535, 536)

Arthur Morgan

Question:

530 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he is taking to address the difficulties which will be faced by refugees and asylum seekers who are registered to vote but who will be unable to exercise their right to vote owing to the fact that, in many cases, their only identification, the Garda National Immigration Bureau photo card, is not among the designated list of acceptable forms of identification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8363/04]

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Eamon Gilmore

Question:

558 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the electoral regulations to specify that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, asylum seekers identity cards may be accepted as proof of identity for voting purposes at the local and European elections in June 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/04]

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John Bruton

Question:

564 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Garda identification allocated to asylum seekers will be sufficient proof of identity to give to returning officers in polling stations, should asylum seekers wish to vote in the upcoming European and local elections, as they do not hold Irish passports or Irish drivers’ licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8834/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 530, 558 and 564 together.

The question of the identification available to asylum seekers and refugees for electoral purposes is under examination in my Department in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

531 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he is taking to encourage refugees and asylum seekers to register and exercise their right to vote at the elections in June 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8364/04]

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The form used by registration authorities to compile the 2004-05 register of electors contained information for non-nationals regarding their eligibility to vote and to stand at the 2004 European and local elections. In addition, advertising will also be undertaken to alert non-nationals who may be entitled to vote at local elections to the possibility of applying for entry in the supplement to the register of electors.

Enda Kenny

Question:

532 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the comments of returning officers regarding difficulties in recruiting sufficient staff to conduct the local and European elections in June 2004; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the closure of polling stations makes it less attractive for members of the public to vote and, as a consequence, lessens the extent of democratic decision; if he will make sufficient resources available to all returning officers so that no polling station has to be closed without exceptional reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8365/04]

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Arrangements for the taking of polls at the European and local elections, including the recruitment of staff, are the responsibility for the appropriate European and local returning officer. Support and guidance is provided for those officers by my Department regarding the statutory requirements involved and the countrywide introduction of electronic voting and counting, and by the Department of Finance regarding the financing, from the Central Fund, of the expenses of elections.

The elected members of local authorities are responsible for making a polling scheme dividing a county or city council into polling districts. The number of polling stations to be used in any polling district is then a matter for each returning officer. Adequate funding will be provided to returning officers for the employment of staff and other electoral expenses arising at the June 2004 elections, including the costs of polling stations.

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