Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Gilmore did us a service by initiating this discussion.

I said to the Minister, Deputy Roche, last night that none of us, particularly Deputies on the Government benches, should claim there is no problem. In fairness to the Minister and Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, they outlined the action being taken to deal with the issues that arise.

I checked with my office this morning and noted that, in spite of my local authority doing its best, families are still asking why mail is still being posted to their parents who are dead and why the register is not amended. It worries us all that, 400 days before the next general election, the registers, not only those in the Dublin region but those throughout the country clearly present a challenge.

I was very interested in what the Chief Whip, Deputy Kitt, said last night on his responsibilities in respect of the Central Statistics Office. He stated:

I have opened discussions with the CSO about the possibility of census enumerators helping to carry out the vital role of ensuring that the register is maintained and updated on a consistent and continual basis. The personnel in question are well placed to provide a service to the voter and potential voter in this regard. I do not ignore or undervalue the vital role played by the local authorities in this area. I do not intend to rule them out of the process [at all].

There are problems with the register. Colleagues have referred to various problems regarding accommodation units, which problems I have articulated on other occasions. Those who know I represent Dublin South-West with my Tallaght-based colleague, Deputy Crowe, will know I have often commented on recent developments regarding apartment complexes, most of which are locked to the public. Issues arise in this regard, in addition to certain security considerations which must be respected. However, while I will not cry about political activists not being able to gain access to apartments, I draw attention to the serious problem this poses for council officials and those who want to correct the register. Local authorities — I will not spare South Dublin County Council in this regard — have a clear responsibility to ensure adequate communication and to remind people of their responsibility to ensure they are included on the register. When I was entitled to vote for the first time I was very enthusiastic about being included on it and ensuring I had my vote. I hope I was no different from anybody else in this regard.

Last night Deputies referred to the possibility of using different systems. I went to the bother of determining that there are fundamental differences between how the system operates here and in Northern Ireland. I am told the register in Northern Ireland is not the responsibility of individual local authorities, but of a dedicated organisation, the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, which has a chief electoral officer in headquarters based in Belfast and nine area electoral offices located strategically across Northern Ireland. I am told the organisation employs approximately 40 permanent staff and also uses a much larger number of temporary staff during the annual canvass for electoral registration and during elections. The administration costs are funded by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland through the Northern Ireland Office. Each person eligible to register is obliged by law to do so. The agency then prepares and publishes the register annually and makes changes to the register monthly outside the period of the annual canvass. This process is known as a rolling register.

We all accept there are difficulties with the register and that we all must take responsibility to ensure the register is right. Other colleagues have listed all sorts of problems and possible abuses that may have taken place over the years. I was glad to hear the Minister express an open view on these issues last night. We should be open to change. I suspect the Minister is correct in saying that change would be particularly difficult with only a year to the next general election.

I am sure that my county is no worse than elsewhere. However, any cursory look at the register shows difficulties. People are registered who should not be registered. Some people who have gone to their rest remain registered. People who should be registered are not registered. In my constituency, as no doubt throughout the country, new housing developments take place and people move in and back out again just as quickly. It seems to take forever to sort out the register. It is important that we are having this debate. The Minister has responsibility to listen to what has been said and should take action in respect of issues that can be addressed.

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