Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

That is not what Deputy Gregory asked in his question. At the polling station, the returning officer or the presiding officer may or, if required by a personation agent, shall request any person applying for a ballot paper to produce a specified identification document. I will not list the range of documents because they are well known to Members of the House.

If a person fails to produce a required document or if the returning officer or the presiding officer is not satisfied that the person is the person to whom the document relates, he or she is not to be permitted to vote. My Department has considerably strengthened its recommendations to returning and presiding officers about the frequency of document checking. Prior to 2002, the recommended frequency was one in 20 and in 2002, this was increased to one in four. I will continue to insist that the recommended frequency be one in four in the upcoming general election.

Electoral law sets out a range of offences and penalties in respect of personation, including a new offence provided for under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2004 for the unlawful possession or use of a polling information card. I will continue to keep this important matter, including the scope for further improvements, under review. Deputy Gregory must accept that some degree of flexibility in the polling station is positive.

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