Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 October 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Discussion

9:30 am

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, in Cork, there would be no extra costs involved and based on what was done on the last occasion in Donegal, there would be no extra costs involved. If a provision that ballot boxes would not have to be in place at 9 a.m. were included, effectively, that would potentially involve no extra cost. The ballot boxes are brought to the Aran Island either by plane or by boat. The boat leaves at 8 a.m. and the ballot boxes would be in the count centres at 9.30 a.m. or 10 a.m. There would be no logistical issue involved. Provided that the ballot boxes were not required to be in the count centres prior to 9 a.m., there should be no extra cost involved. Therefore, that amendment is crucial if we want to keep costs to a minimum. In the worst case scenario, we are talking about arranging an early morning or very late night sailing of a boat. We are talking about a cost of a few hundred euro. I do not believe it would be measurable in the cost of an election when all would be said and done, or that it would involve any significant cost. If an amendment was included to allow for the ballot boxes to be brought to the count centres up to 11 a.m. to cover ourselves and allow plenty of time, I believe that would avoid any cost implications.

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