Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill and commend Deputy Doyle on it. The democratic process is very important and voter participation in our democracy is of paramount importance.

I support the idea of having fixed polling and a fixed polling day, for example, a Saturday or Sunday or perhaps even a Friday. This issue should be discussed and Deputy Andrew Doyle is to be commended on providing Deputies with an opportunity to do so.

Previous speakers discussed the process of registering electors. I recall walking in New York one Saturday and being struck by how engaged people were with a registration drive being held by the Democratic Party on a city street. Perhaps we could hold such registration drives as a way of engaging with people and ensuring the electoral system is open and transparent. The Bill offers us an opportunity to discuss these issues.

I am disappointed by the tenor of the remarks made by Deputy Cowen on political reform. This Government has introduced more political reform than Fianna Fáil-led Administrations introduced in a decade and a half. I challenge the Deputy to debate political reform with me in any forum.

I hope the debate on this Bill will include a discussion on the location of polling stations. I will pose a question on which I do not have a fixed opinion. Should we use schools as polling stations or would it be preferable to use other premises for that purpose?

The day that is set for polling is important. The holding of by-elections on a Saturday was cited and the Minister of State noted the high turnout in a recent election in the Ballybay-Clones electoral district where the polls were open for 15 hours. From speaking to many polling clerks and presiding officers, I am aware that election days are long. Nevertheless, we must ensure that polling hours are sufficiently flexible to accommodate those living in the commuter belt, urban centres and rural areas as well as those who are working. We must also address the fact that people who are on holidays on polling day or travelling abroad for work reasons cannot vote.

The Constitutional Convention, in its meetings in 2013, discussed the Dáil electoral system. The convention was an important element of political reform, to which Deputy Cowen did not refer, which increased citizens' engagement with the democratic process. The Government has an obligation to respond to its reports and has already done so in some cases. A proposal to establish an independent electoral commission received 97% support at the convention, while the option of extending polling hours and increasing the number of polling days received 89% support. It is interesting that the majority of citizens in attendance wanted to have longer polling days and an independent electoral commission. The Government's political reforms include its proposal to establish an electoral commission, the introduction of gender quotas, a reduction in the number of Deputies and the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad, which was defeated by the electorate. The introduction of Friday sittings gives Deputies an opportunity to discuss legislation proposed by individual Deputies, including this Bill on the electoral system.

I support the Bill and hope the Government will go further by reviewing the days and times of polling. Before it proceeds to the next Stage, I ask the Government to consult presiding officers and polling clerks to ascertain their views on how to reform and improve the polling system. Many of these men and women have sat at desks in polling stations over a number of electoral cycles and will have views on the issue. The Bill is worthy of support and I commend Deputy Doyle on its introduction.

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