Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
382. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that the Dublin County Sheriff operated a fair and transparent method of recruitment for polling station operatives in view of his suggestion that preference should be given to unemployed persons. [54000/12]
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.
My Department wrote to Returning Officers on 19 November 2012 asking that they outline the extent to which unemployed persons were engaged in the conduct of the poll and the counting of the votes at the referendum held on 10 November 2012. They were also invited to comment on the issues that can arise in providing temporary employment to the unemployed at elections and referendums, based on their experiences. I will consider the information received in due course.
