asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider the introduction of legislation to prohibit electioneering outside polling booths on polling day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Legislation on Electioneering.
2.
The activities of some canvassers in the vicinity of polling stations can in some instances give rise to concern. Apart from possible inconvenience to electors, over-zealous canvassing of this kind is clearly counter productive from the point of view of candidates and their parties. I am considering what action may be necessary to ensure that proper restraint is exercised including whether any change in law may be desirable.
Self denial.
In view of the uncertain political situation at present, will the Minister give urgent consideration to the new measures he proposes to bring forward? He would know as well as I that the scene outside some polling booths, particularly in urban areas late in the evening, is most unseemly. Indeed, voters are well-nigh intimidated in getting in to vote. This should be ended.
Some representations have been made in that regard in recent times, not because of the proximity of an election but because of the inconvenience it has caused, particularly in the large built up areas. It is interesting to note that returning officers are authorised to employ a supervisory presiding officer if there are more than four polling stations in the one building and it is part of the duty of that supervisory presiding officer to see to it that electors are not subjected to undue pressure or harassment by the agents or their canvassers. Of course, prevention of the obstruction is a matter for the Garda, but I recognise what the Deputy is referring to. It leads to some concern in certain areas.
If an election should take place before the Minister is able to bring forward legislation, may I ask him to encourage returning officers to employ these supervisory presiding officers to whom he has referred and to ensure that their budget will be adequate to enable them to do so?
I will bring it to the notice of the returning officers who will be catering for the larger urban areas where there are more than four polling booths.
Would the Minister agree that the main problem occurs at the larger polling stations where election workers tend to congregate because large numbers of electors converge at that point? Would he consider perhaps the idea of having many more polling stations in urban areas which would on the one hand be more convenient for electors and would reduce the large numbers attending in any one polling station?
I would. I think it unsatisfactory to have a large number of polling stations in the one building particularly when they sometimes refer to two or three different constituencies. I suppose we will never get away from last minute canvassing on the doorstep, particularly when it is outside the curtilage of the polling booths. However, I think there is something in what the Deputy says and I will endeavour to see to it that we alter that as it applies to the larger polling stations here in the city.
Is the Minister aware that a substantial amount of work in relation to measures to deal with this problem and other reforms of the electoral Act had been done in his Department prior to his arrival? Can he indicate to the House whether he intends bringing forward a legislative measure to give effect to those proposals?
Some work had been done, and it is my intention to do as the Deputy suggests.
Can the Minister give any timescale as to when that might be?
Certainly before the next election.
Has the Minister the proposals ready for presentation?
I am checking and considering urgently the proposals which were there when I arrived plus some others including those referred to now by the Deputies.
What is the Minister's view on a complete ban by law on political activity within, say, 50 yards of a polling station on election day?
I think it would be difficult to implement and might be counter productive to what we are trying to achieve. I do not think a good case is to be made for it. If we could carry out some of the alleviating measures that have been recommended it might get round to what the Deputy is referring to.