Electoral Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Questions (494)

Clare Daly

Question:

494. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 May 2015, the way he plans to end the discrimination faced by women who are due to be hospitalised to give birth on polling day, in view of the fact that it is not an illness and does not qualify them for a postal vote, in the context of his reply that he has no plans to extend existing arrangements for postal votes. [19608/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The categories of persons who may vote by post at elections and referendums has evolved incrementally in the context of electoral amendment legislation. As outlined in response to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 May 2015, the Government, in responding to the recommendation of the Constitution on the Convention in their fourth report that there should be greater access to postal voting, proposed that an Electoral Commission be tasked in due course with considering the issue. They should advise in detail on the electoral and operational implications, including costs, of implementing change in this area. Any proposals for change that emerge from this process will be considered in the context of future electoral amendment legislation.