Results 2,921-2,940 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I second Senator Bannon's amendment. This point was made last night and I will not go over it again. I hope the Minister has had time to reconsider it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to those of Senator Bannon and Senator Finucane. We dealt with this last night and I will not repeat myself but Senator Finucane is correct. Software is now available to do things which we could not do in the past and this is a good example. The aim of electronic voting is not speed but accuracy and, therefore, trust and confidence in the system is important. This would be very...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: We are now coming to the terms of reference of the commission; I refer to amendment No. 51. We should use this opportunity to revisit the terms of reference of the commission, as by doing so we can ensure we get the best possible result from its deliberations. We can also ensure that the commission is not unduly restricted or hampered in any way by restrictions we put on it regarding what it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Bannon. I refer to amendment No. 52. Of the five themes the commission identified among the large number of submissions it received, the first was "the need for a voter verified paper audit trail to ensure that the accuracy of the results can be checked independently of the new system itself". The commission acknowledged the issue fell outside its terms of reference but it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: A paper trail exists.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: They can see it afterwards.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Finucane's argument. In the first Seanad election in which I took part, I saw something unfair take place although it did not happen in my own case. Another candidate lost by a very small number of votes for precisely the reason outlined by Senator Finucane. The random ballot papers were taken from a pile which had clearly been transferred from a particular candidate. It was...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Bannon has made a valid argument but I am not sure the amendment, as tabled, is correct in that I believe we need controls in this area. If not, there is a danger that a person could interrupt an election by registering 1,000 candidates thereby resulting in one never finding the correct candidate. The current provision which requires a candidate to have 15 supporters may not be ideal....

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister of State for his explanation. A person in the university constituencies standing for election to the Seanad is required to have ten registered nominees. It is interesting to see the number of candidates who have difficulty in finding ten nominees. If a proposed candidate has difficulty finding ten nominees, the chances of him or her getting a respectable vote in the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 22: In page 9, subsection (1), line 8, after "machine" to insert the following: ", and that each machine has been duly locked and sealed in accordance with section 8(4)". This subsection deals with the vital piece of record keeping which will be central to establishing the evidence that the procedures set out in the preceding section have been properly carried out. As the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed. Nonetheless, I agree with Senator Bannon that I am sure the Ombudsman would happily work for nothing. Amendment No. 33 not moved.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, lines 1 to 4, to delete subsection (8) and substitute the following: "(8) Parts 1 and 3 of this Act, together with sections 33, 34 and 35 and Schedule 5, shall come into operation on enactment. Part 2, together with sections 30, 31 and 32 and Schedules 1 to 4, inclusive, shall come into operation on such day as the Ministermay appoint by order, but only...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I did not support Senator Bannon's previous amendment but I am happy to support him on this occasion. The purpose of amendment No. 6 is to stress the paramount role of the Oireachtas in the implementation of this legislation. A sliding scale of importance attaches to ministerial orders. This is expressed by the way the orders are presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas. In matters of a...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed. While I of course accept the point that commencement orders are used, this is for routine matters. It is important to stress that this is not a routine matter but something much more important. I hope the Minister will reconsider this.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, subsection (9), line 6, after "made" to insert the following: ", but shall not come into effect until after a resolution of both Houses is passed". I will not press the amendment but rather withdraw it for the consideration of the House tomorrow.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, subsection (1), line 12, to delete "equipment." and substitute the following: "equipment, or (c) interferes in any way, without due authorisation, with the software used or intended for use in a voting system in the State, including any such interference that occurs during the development or deployment of such a system.". I am not so sure amendments Nos. 7...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I have a doubt when the Minister of State says the biggest threat is to the voting machines and that they are stand alone. I am not talking about stand alone pieces of equipment but the software that goes into them in the preparation of it, probably months and years before. That somebody can install into the software a flawed system so that somebody is able to wreck the system with a virus,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am a fan of electronic voting but I want to ensure that it enjoys public confidence when it is introduced. While I accept that my amendment is not strictly necessary on this occasion, it would be healthy and good for democracy if it were accepted. I was, therefore, disappointed with the Minister of State's comment that he did not consider it likely that any Government would insist on using...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I have tabled an amendment that would resolve the issue raised by Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I have no problem with the spirit of the amendment and much of what Senator Bannon has said is correct. I am somewhat concerned that it excludes Independents.