Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Perhaps. I suggest the removal of this requirement and its replacement by an absolute requirement obliging everyone who gains a place on the supplementary register to be in possession of proper identification. Instead of the system that applies to those on the ordinary register, whereby one in four or one in six people are checked, everyone on the supplementary register would be obliged to produce identification. This would reduce greatly the opportunity for fraud.

I also wish to raise the issue of constituency sizes, which was alluded to by a previous speaker. I am not concerned by constituency size as I represent a four seater. However, Deputy Finian McGrath noted earlier that on the north side of Dublin, virtually all the constituencies are three seaters while on the south side, they are virtually all five seaters. This is completely undemocratic and unfair. Members are aware that the greater the number of seats in a constituency, the more proportional the representation of the voices and views coming from that constituency in this House. I wonder whether this pertains to implementing best practice in democracy or trying to cook the books by matching the size of the constituency to suit the bigger parties, thereby ensuring they can sustain their power base in this House. Either way, constituency sizes must be reviewed. Incidentally, I do not accept that the constituency of Louth should remain as a four seater. It should have become a five seater before now and had the census figures been taken into account, it would have. The sooner this position is reached the better.

As only a few minutes remain to me, I wish to conclude by referring to the issue of electronic voting and the debacle created in respect of that nonsensical scheme in which approximately €60 million was squandered. Money was poured down the drain at a time when people are on hospital trolleys and when pensioners are cold and hungry in their homes because of a lack of proper medical care or heating, as well as a lack of provision of housing aid for the elderly whereby windows, doors and draught excluding issues could be resolved. The Minister should imagine the number of pensioners' homes throughout the State that could have been dealt with, had the €62 million spent been available.

Moreover, that sum merely refers to the machines. What about the other material pertaining to the e-voting debacle? I refer to the cost of the stands, the cost of the propaganda and the rogue machines Members saw next door when they were asked to inspect such wonderful machines. Subsequently, Members found out the machines did not work.

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