Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
208 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in the compilation of the electoral register, he will reconsider his decision to include the wording (details supplied) on the standard form because it creates difficulties for charities and may result in job losses. [14909/04]
View answerIn response to concerns expressed by the Data Protection Office and more generally about the use of the register of electors for non-electoral purposes, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 provided for the compilation of a full and edited register of electors. An edited register contains the names of persons who have stated no objection to their details being used for purposes over and above electoral or other statutory uses. The full register may be used for electoral and other statutory uses only.
The form used by registration authorities to compile the register of electors contains a question that enables an elector to indicate whether they, or other persons included on the form, wish their name and address to be used for a purpose other than electoral or other statutory use. The question requires a yes or no reply. When the answer is no then details will appear on the full register only.
The overriding objective of these arrangements is to preserve the integrity of the register of electors for its primary purpose, to assure electors that their personal details from the register will not be used for other non statutory purposes without their agreement and to make the choice of whether to appear on the edited register and the implications of that choice as clear as possible.
