Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I have been presented, as other Members have, with the second report of the Commission on Electronic Voting on the secrecy, accuracy and testing of the chosen electronic voting system. This is another nail in the coffin of the Government's claim to competence, good judgment and ministerial capability. Just over two years ago, the Government tried to foist a dud electronic voting system on the people at a cost of €60 million. I remember the Taoiseach chiding us for not trusting this new wonderful facility. Everybody in the House was deemed to be a Luddite. On 17 April 2004 the Taoiseach said, "I am told that the reliability of the system has been tested and that it is good". All the technical experts who questioned this system were derided and sneered at. The then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, said it was "secure, reliable and can be trusted by the people".

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