asked the Minister for Local Government when he expects to be in a position to set up a committee to consider the extension of the postal vote to additional sections who find it virtually impossible to exercise the franchise by going to a particular polling booth on polling day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postal Voting.
22.
The extension of postal voting is under examination in my Department in conjunction with other aspects of the electoral law which may require amendment. A decision has not yet been taken on whether or not a committee should be set up to consider the matter.
Does the Minister recall that he promised either to set up this committee fairly soon or to ask the Committee that has already inquired into electoral law to consider this extension?
I do not recall that, but if the Deputy says I did, I shall be glad if he would indicate when so that I can check.
In the course of the discussion on the Private Members' Bill on the amendment of the Electoral Act, 1963.
Possibly this may help. I did say this as reported in the Dáil Debates for 1st December, 1965:
We may need a commission for this work. That does not mean I am putting it on the long finger. It might be desirable to have a committee to examine it or even to recall the Joint Committee on the Electoral Law. I would be inclined to say that if it were in the hands of my officials and myself, it would take a year, but if it is desirable we should have a committee to examine it, I would not be inclined to say a year because the committee might take longer.