Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
435. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will be requesting returning officers to enforce his recommendations that returning officers employ persons from the live register or at least open up the employment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44749/12]
View answerThe primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in accordance with the relevant provisions of electoral law.
My Department issues guidance to Returning Officers in advance of each election and referendum. The guidance emphasises that the smooth conduct of polls is dependent on maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people. Having regard to that overall objective, returning officers are advised to employ competent and efficient persons as polling staff and asked to give consideration, where possible, to employing suitable persons who are unemployed.
In addition, at my request, my Department wrote to each Returning Officer on 4 October 2012, advising that, wherever practicable, the opportunity should be taken to employ unemployed persons at polling stations and in carrying out the subsequent counting of votes at elections and referendums so as to provide opportunity for work experience to unemployed persons. I believe that this should apply particularly in relation to the Polling Clerk position, where the responsibilities of the post can be fulfilled under the guidance of the Presiding Officer. Following the referendum on 10 November 2012, my Department will be writing to Returning Officers to ascertain the extent to which unemployed persons were engaged on that occasion and with a view to working with Returning Officers to address issues arising.
