Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not understand the rationale for opposing the amendment. In the Minister of State's contribution, she said we must have safeguards in place to ensure the electoral register is accurate and that no fraud is committed by individuals making applications to the supplementary register. However, we do not have any of these safeguards in place for people applying to be entered on the regular register before the cut-off deadline, which is 25 November this year. Applicants are not required to go to a Garda station and can just submit their form. No photographic identification is required. The form is posted to the local authority and the applicant goes on the register. However, if somebody wants to go onto the supplementary register, he or she must go to a Garda station or, if they cannot do that, get written confirmation they cannot attend the station. Failing that, they must submit a medical certificate.

This does not add up. There is more scope for fraud in regard to the current registration system than in regard to the supplementary register. All Deputy Stanley's amendment seeks to do is to make the process simpler. The bar he sets in his amendment is higher than the bar for the normal register. He proposes people should be able to attend a local authority with photographic identification and be added to the register. Up to 25 November, that is not even necessary.

See this speech in context