Results 201-220 of 406 for speaker:Charlie McCreevy

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: The voting machine hardware and software have been rigorously tested on two separate occasions. The first time was before the pilot use of the system in 2002 while the second was last year, following some modifications to the voting machine to make it easier for voters to use and the addition of extra security features. The German science and technology institute, Physikalisch-Technische...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: No.

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Other tests on the voting machine hardware have been run by the Dutch electronic products and services company, TNO and KEMA Quality B.V. accredited by the Dutch Council for Accreditation. These companies have examined and certified the physical voting machine components and also subjected the voting machine and the supporting equipment to compliance tests in line with international standards...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: With regard to the election management software an independent Irish software firm, Nathean Technologies, has undertaken a comprehensive architectural code review of the election software. It has concluded that the code does not contain elements which can corrupt the correct running of the software. As a further precaution, all the computers to be used in the election will be stand-alone...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Regarding the security of the voting machines and the protocols surrounding the election, the Department has introduced rigorous procedures for secure storage and maintenance throughout polling. On foot of a comprehensive security assessment, which was undertaken on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by Zerflow Information Security, several additional...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: While our present system has worked well, one does not hear the same alarm stories about the security of the paper ballot and the possibilities that exist to interfere with such a box. It would be much easier for votes to be compromised or lost with a paper ballot. The electronic system has proved to be totally dependable through its record over the years in other countries and in our pilot...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: It is a fundamentally false premise of the Opposition and other critics that we are somehow losing a perfect system. Anyone who attends counts knows that this is not the case. By far the most important part of this is that thousands of people go to the polls and cast a ballot which they think is valid but which is ruled out because of an inadvertent error.

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: This is not some hypothetical possibility, it is what happens every time we use the traditional system which almost certainly impacts on the results of elections. In the last local elections 24,000 people had their votes disallowed, overwhelmingly because of inadvertent errors such as indistinct numerals or a failure to properly stamp the ballot. Meanwhile 40 councillors were returned by less...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: If there is a proven case available to us which will end this flaw in our democratic system, adopting it is not an option, it is essential for all true democrats. Every vote should be accurately counted and every mandate should reflect the exact intent of those who have taken the time to participate. This is exactly what the new system will achieve. By the way, the manner in which we transfer...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Yes it will.

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: At the last election when only a certain number of constituencies used this system and the others used the traditional system that was how it worked. Under the new system, however, it will be possible for the ballot to be counted throughout the country in the same way and the correct way.

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Returning officers will apply rigid access security procedures at all stages of the election so that only authorised staff will have access to the stand-alone voting machines and the PCs used at the election. Some security concerns have been raised about the use of PCs. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has had the arrangements for the PCs checked with experts...

Electronic Voting: Motion (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: I wish to deal specifically with the two issues raised by some opponents of the system. The first issue is that of adding on a voter verifiable paper audit trail, or VVPAT. I have observed an increasing chorus for what has become a media catchword but I wonder do its proponents understand the system we are using or are they just accepting, uncritically, the information made available by some...

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners has met with the chief executives on an individual basis. All the relevant financial institutions advise the Revenue that they will be co-operating with the proposed investigation into offshore accounts. The formal investigation will commence on 29 March 2004. In the meantime, I understand that the banks, as previously, will write to their customers...

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: I do not, and would not, have evidence of how the Revenue Commissioners will deal with these matters. That is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and evidence is not supplied to me as to the legitimacy or otherwise of the cases. The information will come out when the Revenue Commissioners are investigating these matters. There are many reasons for having offshore accounts. People have them...

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Tax evasion is something people do not broadcast too widely. They do not ring up to tell us they are involved in tax evasion. However, should the Deputy or anybody else have evidence of tax evasion practices by individuals or institutions, they should inform the Revenue Commissioners. In this case, the Revenue Commissioners are investigating the activities of the financial institutions to...

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: No, people would not ring me up either.

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: No.

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: I have no idea.

Offshore Accounts. (17 Feb 2004)

Charlie McCreevy: Tax evasion is, and always has been, an activity in which people should not engage. I have done more than any other Minister for Finance to give powers to the Revenue Commissioners to pursue tax evasion. If the Deputy checks the legislation over the past 60 years, she will discover that more power has been given to the Revenue Commissioners by me to investigate tax evasion than any previous...