asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of complaints regarding the confused condition of the Voters Register which came to light in the last general election; if he is satisfied with the present methods of compilation of the Register; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that this matter is put right.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voters Register.
46.
I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction with the register of electors used in connection with the recent general election but any specific complaints made to me on the subject will be investigated. Statutory effect has been given to the principal recommendations made by the Joint Committee on the Electoral Law with a view to making the compilation of the register more efficient. Further legislation on the subject is not at present visualised.
Does the Minister agree that, when one sees at election time children of 16 on the register and adult people over 21 who have been several years resident here not on it, it indicates something seriously wrong with the system?
There are occasions where people over 21 are not on the register. If there are people over 16 on the register, I am not aware of it. In these cases, in all the thousands of names that are compiled annually and that must be reviewed, certain mistakes may take place. We cannot get away from that. As I have already said on several occasions, if there are specific cases, in specific areas where there seems to be a greater problem than in others, I should be glad to hear of them from the Deputy.
It is widespread in County Dublin.
Is the Minister aware that the rate collectors say it is not possible to carry out this work in the allotted time of six weeks? They have to delegate this work and cannot rely on the people they get in that short time.
This is one of the problems of compiling the register. The time within which the annual register must be compiled must of necessity be short. It may be more difficult in some areas than in others. Possibly it may be more difficult in the city and county of Dublin.
It is badly done in County Dublin.
Again, if there is any way the Deputy sees by which we can improve the situation, I should be glad to hear of it.
Could the Minister state whether the right to vote depends on citizenship, nationality or domicile? I think the Minister is aware of the fact that particularly a number of British citizens who have been resident here for many years feel a sense of grievance that they are not allowed vote at parliamentary elections. I think a statement from the Minister would clear the position.
The only thing we can do is to have the Article of the Constitution governing it published.
If the Minister made that clear, it would probably resolve many of the doubts that exist.
I shall do that at the first opportunity I get.