Dáil debates

Wednesday, 25 April 2007

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

8:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I am talking about voter participation, the need for voter interest and the need for the political establishment to be fair and honest with the voting public.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle has been a Member of this House for longer than anyone here. I know he cannot agree with me and applaud what I am saying but he knows in his heart and soul that what has been done to the unfortunate electorate is appalling. They were hoodwinked and trapped, bought and paid for and sold down the river when it was all over. The Government can dress it up any way it likes; have the election on any day of the week it wishes; pick the time it thinks the least number of people are likely to be accommodated by coming out to vote but I think they will still come out to vote. They will pay back. Many young people will decide it is now payback time.

Some of the ceremony associated with elections in the past has gone. I remember being told by a Minister for the Environment from that side of the House some years ago that the people outside the polling stations were a nuisance and were impeding voter participation. As soon as the people were removed from outside the polling stations voter participation dropped simply because it was part of the ceremony and the ritual. It was what we grew up with and it was part of our tradition.

I know of members of families who did not speak to each other before they went to vote and went to vote separately because they were on opposite sides of the house yet when the voting was over they were the best of friends. That was the tradition which this country grew up with since the foundation of the State.

We all know of Fine Gael people and Fianna Fáil people living side by side. They were the best of pals and went to hurling, football, rugby and soccer matches together. When the heat generated by the election took over, they sulked and avoided each other. They manned the polling station the day before and hurled abuse and all kinds of catcalls at each other and derived much enjoyment from it. It was amazing that no offence was ever taken because they had forgotten about it at the count and they were the best of pals again. They were participating in the ritual that was born at the foundation of the State and in which they contested and competed vigorously in the selection of their public representatives.

It was a wrong decision to remove that ritual as the interest in the voting process dropped dramatically as a result. I have an example from my own constituency. People stopped to ask me directions to the polling station and this was a question never asked before because it was always recognisable from the flags flying. Politicians stood outside the polling stations to greet the people on their way in. The system has been depersonalised and I am certain this was a diminution of the public interest in the democratic process. The election should be held on whatever day is most convenient for the greater number of people.

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