Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee Stage

5:00 pm

Photo of Robert DowdsRobert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I am broadly sympathetic with what Deputy Ó Cuív said but I am not going to embarrass the Government by voting against its wishes. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider the matter before the Bill is brought back to the Dáil.

For clarity, I would like somebody to explain a particular matter for me. In constituencies with islands, is it a decision entirely for the returning officer as to whether a poll is held on the same day or on a different day? It might be useful to have the returning officer in Cork West or Cork South-West to have a word with the relevant returning officers in Donegal, Mayo and Galway West. I do not wish to push the matter any more than that. Deputy Ó Cuív has a real point and I ask that the matter be considered between now and Report Stage.