Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 22, paragraph (b), line 24, after "Ireland" to insert "and the Local Authority Franchise Offices".

This amendment is to facilitate, hopefully in the near future, the franchise office in local authorities to use the PPS number to register electors. Currently, somebody must fill in a registration form and the registers are continuously out of date as a result of people moving house or whatever. If we facilitate in some way the use of an individual's PPS number as our electoral number it would make for a much more accurate electoral register throughout the country. It will allow the staff on polling day to record people's votes and ensure the register is as accurate as possible. It is only a mechanism; it does not mean this would happen overnight. It would merely facilitate a debate at some stage and might require an electoral amendment Bill to be proposed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am aware that other parties have considered this and there appears to be some agreement that we need to ensure that changes are brought about and that our electoral register system is brought into the new century, especially with the advent of new technology. It would be a reasonable change and would not add any additional costs at this stage to the State. I am interested to hear the Minister's view on it but it would be even more interesting to hear what the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would have to say about the system I propose.

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