Vol. 518 No. 6
392 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will introduce regulations to provide for the need to produce identification by all voters so as to counteract the practice of chain-voting. [12894/00]
Under electoral law a presiding officer may of his own volition, or if so required by a personation agent, request any person applying for a ballot paper to satisfy him or her as to their identity by producing any one of a number of specified documents. Where a person fails to produce such a document or the presiding officer is not satisfied that the person is the person to whom the document relates, a ballot paper is not issued. Presiding officers have powers to direct a member of the Garda Síochána to arrest a person where they have reasonable cause to believe that personation is or has been committed and electoral law also provides for the offence of personation and appropriate penalties. I am satisfied that these arrangements are operating satisfactorily but it is a matter that I will keep under review.
