Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
627. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason "pandemic" is defined in the Electoral Reform Act 2022 as an outbreak of disease which has been declared by the World Health Organization to be a pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47617/23]
View answerSections 173 to 178 (Part 6) of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 provide flexibility for polling to take place at electoral events over more than one day to facilitate social distancing at polling stations. In the event of a pandemic or Covid-19 posing a serious and exceptional risk to human life and public health, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage can, with the consent of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, make an order providing for advance polling to take place on the day before the day appointed by the Minister as polling day.
The definitions of a pandemic and Covid-19 set out in the Act seek to ensure that there is clarity as to the circumstances in which the Minister may make the relevant order providing for advance polling.
