Vol. 266 No. 5
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that presiding officers, during the Presidential election, were debarred from voting unless they were on the electoral register in the area over which they were presiding; and the action he intends taking in the matter to ensure that they will have a vote in future.
13.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statutory provision to allow presiding officers and poll clerks to vote in a Presidential election at a polling booth other than as indicated in the list of polling stations.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
As Deputies are aware, there is no provision in the Presidential Elections Acts to enable a person employed by a local returning officer to vote at a polling station other than that allotted to him as an elector under the local authority's polling scheme.
I intend to introduce legislation to remedy this when a suitable opportunity arises.
Can the Minister say when a suitable opportunity, apart from the usual smart remark about the next election, will be? It is important that he should have this dealt with as a matter of urgency?
I can assure Deputy Andrews that I will introduce it before seven years and before the next general election is due.
Have we an assurance from the Minister that such officers will have a vote in 1980 on the assumption that there will be a Presidential election then and also assuming that there may be a National Coalition then?
Under those proposals they will definitely have a vote.
In view of the sort of angry, insensitive and testy replies I have received to Questions Nos. 7, 8, 10 and II, it is my intention, with your permission and with your convenience, to raise these matters on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Andrews.
