Mr. John O'Dowd:

That issue was an important part of the 2008 study. We discussed with George Bain the experience in Northern Ireland, which is not perfect by any means. It struck us, in compiling the 2008 study, that Northern Ireland would be the logical place to start. The broad principle in use there is a single, nationwide register which tries to track the identity of the individual and uses not only national insurance numbers but various forms of other information, including drivers' registration, etc. What one must do is try to triangulate on the identity of the individual using a variety of sources rather than relying on any particular measure. It struck us that, rather than trying to invent a totally new system, it would be sensible for the electoral commission to look at the Northern Ireland system as the basis for a system to operate down here.