Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I wish to share time with Deputies Gregory, Catherine Murphy and Cuffe.

I welcome this legislation because as the previous speaker said those of us in opposition have been calling for it for some time. Even though the Minister accepted that request somewhat belatedly, it is still welcome and it will help to achieve a better register of electors for many parts of the State.

The register of electors is an extremely important document. Unless one's name is on the register of electors, one does not have the power to vote and if one does not have the power to vote, one has no say.

I do not wish to simply hang the noose for the catastrophe of the electoral register around the neck of the current Government because it has been around the necks of successive Governments for some considerable time, going back to 1997——

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