Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

There are a number of issues which I wish had been given more attention within the Bill. The provisions for postal voting need to be modernised and considered in more detail. It is important to know who is exercising their postal vote and that rigorous criteria be put in place.

As we move towards the enactment of the Disability Bill, one of the key factors is that everybody is treated on a fair and equal basis. Many of our polling stations still have difficulties with regard to accessibility. The Minister should do his utmost between now and the next election to ensure more polling stations are accessible to those with disabilities. This measure does not just apply to election times but to the use of public buildings by people in their daily lives. We should set a timeframe for full accessibility and make sure we deliver on that commitment.

We should introduce a method of automatic registration for people on their 18th birthday. This would result in better registration for younger people. A letter sent in the post telling people about this important civic right which they should exercise would do much to promote awareness of and pride in the electoral process. Perhaps the Minister would examine how this might be arranged.

I would also like to make a plea for the co-ordination of administrative boundaries. There is a plethora of different administrative boundaries in place with regard to policing, health and planning matters. The Dublin Regional Authority produced an excellent report several years ago which drew attention to the varying and incompatible electoral boundaries. It would be an enduring legacy for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he knocked heads together on the issue and contributed towards a better awareness of the problems which exist. It could be done in association with the Central Statistics Office.

Curious data are emerging either because city boundaries are not being extended or health board areas in the Dublin metropolitan area are like the segments of an orange. These are at variance with county boundaries which in turn are at variance with policing boundaries. I welcome any move the Minister could make within his limited role to address the matter. We have made progress with regard to electoral boundaries and local electoral boundaries are more closely related to Dáil constituency boundaries. The strategic policy committee boundaries of most local authorities bear a strong resemblance to either Dáil constituency or local electoral boundaries. We are moving in the right direction, but I hope the Minister would concentrate some effort in trying to advance the process.

I welcome the Bill. There are obviously winners and losers. I hope the process could be a little more transparent in future.

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