Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My apologies, I had to go to the House for other questions. I thank our guests and congratulate them on their presentations.

I tend to get uneasy when I hear too many emerging technicalities, particularly in terms of e-voting. I have often expressed my views on this matter. Our voting system does not lend itself readily to e-voting. Indeed, that was a conclusion from our foray into that area. This situation will not change. Nor should we change our system to accommodate e-voting. I am one of those who believe that voting is an essential part of democracy and should be treated as such. It should not be easy or simple to do, for example, while one is walking a dog and accessing the Internet. It needs careful consideration and democracy will suffer unless we ensure that the system on which it is based continues to be revered. If it is treated in an off-handed or contemptuous fashion, there will be serious problems.

Dr. Kavanagh referred to how particular issues in a constituency or home country might affect the outcome elsewhere. One of my colleagues was famously in a Mexican stand-off with an opponent after an election, in that five or seven votes were at issue. I am not opposed to the concept of representation from abroad, but there must be some control over it. There must be some contact with the home country. The constitutionality of any proposal needs to be proofed. Obviously, a proposal will be challenged at some stage if a group has entitlement by virtue of taxation, legislation and so on while others do not.

To what extent will it be possible to present to the diaspora the prevalent situation in the country of origin? At what stage will this approach be possible, for example, after five or ten years since leaving the homeland? Should it be left open forever? Flying home could become an expensive prospect. Failure to give the same access to the system enjoyed by the national population will lead to a constitutional challenge by someone aggrieved after an election.

Many issues arise. Some recognition of the diaspora is necessary, but it must be handled carefully and in a way that will not skew the result in a region because of the prevailing issues.