Dr. Liam Weeks:

I know all this will cost money. Seán Donnelly regularly highlights the fact that the number of non-transferable votes is at least 10%, and these votes get binned during the counting process because people have not expressed any further preference. Do we know why they are not expressing a further preference? Is there any research into this, particularly in view of the fact that the number of non-transferable votes in most constituencies is greater than the gap in votes between the highest runner-up and the winner of the last seat? Again, this is why we urgently a commission to research this. I know many non-Irish people who are not even aware that they are entitled to vote. Is there any means of mobilising these people, integrating them and telling them about our very unusual voting system? No, there is not.