Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

Any pensioners listening to this debate must be bewildered. In a week in which the House addressed the issue of medical cards, this might appear to be a small matter, but it is significant. Last week, the Minister cheerlead on the benches and gave the budget a standing ovation.

When I raised this matter in May, the Minister gave an identical response. The commission completed its report more than two years ago and the recommendations are before us. Due to the Minister's inaction at the time and his inability to make a decision, I suggested he consider giving responsibility to someone else, with the matter reverting to the Dáil after six months with an ultimate decision on whether e-voting would be pursued and used at the local and European Parliament elections next year.

The Labour Party's position is clear — the project should be scrapped, but we would have facilitated the Minister bringing alternative opinions to the table. None has been proposed. The Minister stands before the House this afternoon——

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