Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to use the stored electronic voting machines for future elections or referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43142/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As I have stated recently in the House, I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in regard to the electronic voting and counting project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally.

I appreciate Deputies have a keen interest in this matter and many have made their views known to me as Minister. I am also aware of the issues that have been raised in regard to storage arrangements for the machines. On this matter, the Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was the right approach.

Given the scale of investment in the system to date, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essential that the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensive manner. It is important that we come to the best decision possible. I hope Deputies will appreciate that it is not possible for me to make more specific comment at this point on the project itself, or on future plans for the machines, pending completion of the necessary work and a decision by Government in the matter. I do, however, expect that this process will be concluded soon.

I am conscious that local and European elections will be held in 2009. While I do not wish to pre-empt the process that is currently ongoing, I am aware of the extensive work inherent in the recommendations of the Commission on Electronic Voting. This includes the replacement of the election management software, as well as adaptations to the equipment and further end-to-end testing. Given the amount of work that would be required, it is unlikely the current e-voting system will be used for the local and European elections in 2009.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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When will the Minister take a leadership position and decide to scrap these machines? What studies has he carried out in regard to their scrappage value? It is blatantly obvious there is a lack of integrity. They are duds and people do not want them.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I do not want to blame the Minister for creating this situation. In fact, there is an opportunity for him to show leadership on the matter which he has not shown to date. Given the Minister's response, the issue is one of storage, not of usage. With 40% of the machines being stored by the private sector, what guidelines or indications did he give to the returning officers with regard to storage?

I will quote two figures on which I would like an opinion. For a 25 year contract, Cavan-Monaghan is charging €21,000 per year for 280 machines, whereas County Clare, on a monthly basis, is charging €3,600 a year for 200 machines. A 25 year contract in Cavan-Monaghan is costing eight times as much per annum as a monthly contract in another part of the country. How did we arrive at such a differential in storage costs? The Minister should give some guidelines in this regard.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Deputies opposite say this is an opportunity to show leadership. I wonder, as I have said before to Deputy Lynch, if and when a decision is made in regard to this matter——

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I will show leadership.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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——the Deputy will show leadership. I am sure he will be out on the plinth. I am interested to hear what he would have to say at some time in the future if this matter is resolved.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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When I am sitting in the Minister's seat.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I love to see confidence and ambition.

With regard to the Government decision to proceed with the movement of electronic voting equipment, it was the best decision to go to the centralised premises. There are 25 locations and the Deputy has outlined some of the costs involved. In taking forward the decision to centralise storage of the electronic voting machines, what we were trying to do was to look at those price variations. An inter-agency steering group was established to oversee the movement of——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am sorry to cut short the Minister but our time is expired. That concludes questions for today.