Results 6,461-6,480 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

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

James Bannon: Am I allowed to speak on amendment No. 10?

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

James Bannon: I call for a quorum.

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

James Bannon: I second the amendment. Interference with the voting system would be a dreadful attack on our democracy so it is important that there are deterrents in place. I compliment Senator Quinn on putting down this amendment. He suggests a fine of €15,000 but that figure should be higher. The term of five years imprisonment could also be reconsidered. Our democracy demands that we have proper and...

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: "'source code' means the data which defines the principles or logic governing the operation of a system of electronic voting;". The integrity and security of the voting system is fundamental to the exercise of democracy. Machines and their operating software must be subject to the most rigorous and...

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

James Bannon: I am extremely disappointed with what the Minister of State has said. This is an indictment of democracy. The Minister of State says nothing can be done because nothing was done within 14 days of the general election. This information was not in the public domain at that time. The Minister of State's response disappoints me and the candidates who were affected by this matter.

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

James Bannon: On 10 December 2003, Ms Margaret McGaley and others, addressing the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government, said all that was required was that minimum safety precautions be put in place. The witnesses pointed out to the joint committee that the proposed system posed genuine threats to our democracy. Ms McGaley said the proposed system was not worthy of the electorate's...

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

James Bannon: It is related to the amendment. It is the system that was used.

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

James Bannon: I was hoping the Minister of State would respond.

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: "'voter-verified paper record' has the meaning assigned to it in section 5;". This amendment inserts a definition of the term "voter-verified record". It is connected to my earlier proposal regarding the new section 5, which requires a voter-verified paper record. This is something for which the Opposition and...

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

James Bannon: It is important we protect public confidence in our voting system. The amendment seeks a viable paper trail which could be used to check the accuracy of the machines. I pointed out to the House examples of anomalies in two constituencies in the 2002 general election. In one example, there were more votes in a box than votes cast and, in another, there were less. This needs to be reconsidered....

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

James Bannon: Following the events at AIB, more customers will look at their balances.

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

James Bannon: I am pressing the amendment. Amendment put.

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 6: In page 7, line 5, after "vote," to insert "produces a paper copy of each vote cast".

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, line 10, after "counting votes" to insert "in a non-random way". This amendment relates to the random nature of the manual system of counting. Several Senators referred to this, having encountered problems in both local and general elections, although I do not think this arose in European elections. These flaws in the system are being carried into the new...

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

James Bannon: Will the Minister of State give an indication as to when he will introduce the legislation? I appreciate he has given a commitment to the House. The amendment proposes that any system adopted for counting votes should be non-random. As the Minister of State said, what members of the Government parties and this side want is accuracy, that is, that the true intent of voters is fully...

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: 5.—As soon as practicable after counting has completed, the Commission on Electronic Voting shall conduct manual mandatory random recount of the voter-verified records—— (a) in the case of a general election, presidential election, European Parliament election, or referendum, of at least 10 percent of...

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

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, line 46, after "may" to insert "by order". This is a technical amendment. The Minister's reputation and his standing within Fianna Fáil has fallen greatly because of the manner in which——

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

James Bannon: It is a technical amendment to strengthen the legislation further.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

James Bannon: It undermines people's confidence in our legislative decisions. That is a fact. I seek a debate on crime. Every day an average of 2,840 crimes are committed in this country. Gun related crime has increased by 50% and theft has increased by 80% since the Government was re-elected. We were promised 2,000 extra gardaí but they have not been appointed. Resources are needed to detect and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

James Bannon: That is Government policy.