Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

Many who did not return their form owing to reasons of sickness or illiteracy will find that their names are no longer on the register and that they cannot vote.

The matter of the supplementary register was raised with the Minister. It is difficult to have one's name included in the supplementary register, as this can only be done by having one's application certified at a Garda station. In many rural areas there is no Garda station, while in urban areas gardaí do not know the people in question. Why would a local peace commissioner or solicitor not suffice? That is something the Minister should consider. Perhaps it could be included as an amendment to this Bill.

Another matter that has come to my attention over the years, particularly regarding local elections, is where people have registered in a particular area and then find they are not accepted at the centre to which they signed up. It may be that the name on the register is Patrick Healy while that on the driving licence or passport is Patsy Healy and there is a question over whether it is the same individual. I ask that this be looked at if the proposal on centres is to go ahead so that genuine people are not turned away.

The next Dáil will be elected on the basis of a mockery of democracy. Many constituencies, because of the preliminary census, will not be properly represented after the election. As the Minister knows, there is very little difference between preliminary and the final census findings. I believe the preliminary census figures could and should be used to determine the number of seats in constituencies. Many constituencies will be seriously under-represented because the boundaries have not been redrawn on the basis of data arising from the preliminary census. It would not be the first time that constituencies were redrawn on the basis of a preliminary census.

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