John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have sympathy for the Labour Party amendment No. 5, which was ruled out of order. It suggested that the electoral area would suffice for the address that goes on the ballot paper. I note in his contribution on Committee Stage that the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, said there was latitude in the process for returning officers to facilitate that. It is important that a note is made that the person is in a certain electoral area in a constituency for the purpose of the ballot paper. I ask the Minister of State to comment on the possibility of issuing a circular to the returning officers in advance of the local, European and general elections next year stating that the electoral area will suffice as an address. This is an issue for some and it can be a cooling off factor for some people in their consideration of whether they want to stand for election, given the recent protests we have seen outside people's homes. I ask the Minister of State to take that on board. I have sympathy for the Labour Party suggestion.