Electronic Voting Machines.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2009

Thursday, 30 April 2009

Ceisteanna (204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210)

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

203 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the person who is accountable for the loss of €51million on the electronic voting machines. [17141/09]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

204 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the person who advised the Government in relation to the purchase of the electronic voting machines. [17142/09]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

205 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he failed to take legal action against persons involved in advising the purchase of the electronic voting machines. [17143/09]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

206 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm that the tendering process for the electronic voting machines was in accordance with the EU and Irish procurement regulations. [17144/09]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

207 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way the electronic voting machines are to be disposed of. [17145/09]

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

215 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the new information which prompted him to make his recent decision to scrap electronic voting machines; if he received a report on the electoral commission which examined the e-voting issue as stated in the Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 October 2008; if he will make that report available to the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17282/09]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

220 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position with regard to individuals or businesses interested in putting the electronic voting machines to use in an alternative project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17298/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 207, inclusive, 215 and 220 together.

I indicated on a number of occasions that I was considering the position in relation to the electronic voting and counting project. On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Government have decided not to proceed with the implementation of electronic voting in Ireland.

In announcing the decision, I stated that significant additional costs would arise to advance electronic voting in Ireland and that the decision had been taken to avoid such costs, especially at a time of more challenging economic conditions. The financial and other resources that would be involved in modifying the machines in advance of implementation could not be justified in present circumstances. I also stated that the public in broad terms appear to be satisfied with the present paper-based system and this must be recognised in decisions on the future steps to be taken with the electronic voting system.

A process will now be put in place, including discussions with the supplier, to address the disposal of the electronic voting and counting equipment and termination of storage arrangements. Proposals made to my Department in this regard will be considered as part of the process.

In February 2000, the Government approved the introduction of electronic voting and counting at elections in Ireland. This was followed by an invitation to tender for an electronic voting and counting system through notices in the EU Official Journal and the national press leading to a decision on the chosen system.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission. To assist in consideration of the issues involved, I commissioned a report by an expert group from UCD. I published the report for consultation on 10 February 2009, with a closing date for submissions of 26 June 2009.

The report is available on my Department's website and I have forwarded a copy to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government inviting its input into the consultation process that is currently underway.