Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am responding to this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. The Minister is abroad on EU Presidency duties at the conference of the parties to the biodiversity convention, but he has been in communication with the Cabinet about this debate.

Much has been written and said about electronic voting and counting in the last few weeks by politicians, computer experts, media commentators and opinion columnists. Comments have ranged from the well-informed and well-intentioned to the actively mischievous and misleading. Ill-informed comment is not unusual in public debate on reforms in this country. Certain Members on the other side of the House have jealously guarded their position at the forefront in this regard. Hardly a week goes by without them announcing loudly that they have discovered another dark conspiracy against the people. The leader of the Labour Party is normally the accepted champion in this field, but this debate has brought out the claims of a number of other Deputies. It is clear from this evening's contribution by Deputy Rabbitte that the Labour Party is not interested in seeking safeguards for electronic voting. The Labour Party's approach is that Fianna Fáil cannot be trusted. This is an insidious, unworthy, diabolical and appalling attempt to create doubt where there is no doubt.

See this speech in context