Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2008
152 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 13 November 2008, the tendering process and the storage standards specified in respect of electronic voting machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41996/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials (such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments and stationery) is a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to Returning Officers to make the necessary arrangements in relation to the storage of the electronic voting machines and equipment. Returning Officers undertook the task of procuring suitable accommodation for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment, and the detailed contractual and other arrangements put in place by Returning Officers reflect the varying circumstances applying at local level. In January 2003, Returning Officers were advised by my Department to make arrangements for storage of the voting equipment in advance of delivery and, in this regard, of the need for the machines to be stored in a clean, dry atmosphere and of the space likely to be required for this purpose.
