Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We all take this matter seriously. It is not a question of being blasé about it. We are all aware of the serious problems there were with the accuracy of the register and that has been a feature of the register for a long number of years. This has been exacerbated by population mobility with hundreds of thousands of people changing their addresses every year. For example, 90,000 new homes were built last year while thousands of other houses changed hands. Councils have been slow to remove people from the register. Names have always been added to the register without the concomitant obligation to delete names. Failure to remove names on death or to reflect family breakdown and ownership of second homes has complicated what was never a simple issue in the first place.

Arising from the concern expressed on all sides of the House, the Government instigated a comprehensive and thorough review. Local authorities completed field work for the most extensive and equitable registration campaign in decades. A total of 1,500 field workers called on 1.25 million households while extensive publicity campaigns were undertaken. Suggestions in the media that the draft register would still contain more than 500,000 names that should not be included may have arisen because of the failure to take into account the 8% increase in population when one compares the 2002 census result with the 2007-08 register. The newspaper did not take that factor into account and, therefore, the difference may not be as great as suggested. However, whether it is or not, between now and 25 November, we must examine what way political parties and activists can help to make sure voters are registered. A great deal of activity is going on in that regard.

Thankfully, the supplementary register system, to which the Deputy referred, is much more flexible.

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