Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

They may be bad news but I do not mind if there is a scientific basis to them and if that basis is published. I recall, however, that approximately 12 months before the last general election a local radio station and newspaper carried out an opinion poll that showed me losing my seat, which was quite close to the truth at the end of the day. The poll put me on 2% of the vote and was done outside three shopping centres in the constituency of Roscommon-South Leitrim, which is 80 miles long and borders on two other provinces. Some of the people surveyed did not even reside in the constituency, yet the poll results received wide coverage at the time on local radio and in local newspapers.

A person's reputation is everything, but an opinion poll that is done on the back of an envelope does not do anyone justice. Some type of fairness should be incorporated in the system to deal with such matters. I understand a number of colleagues had similar experiences in the run up to the last general election.

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