Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I am sure the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, experienced a spark of recognition when Senator Brian Hayes called for votes for emigrants. He would have been present for the many previous debates on the issue in the Chamber. The task force has come to no conclusions on the matter, but I must nail my colours to the mast. I would go further than Senator Hayes's noble aspiration of giving the vote to emigrants for presidential elections and state my belief that Irish citizens, like practically all other citizens of the European Union, should have a right to vote in all elections.

The famous argument against this proposition is that one would not wish to be waiting for the box of votes from Boston to determine the last seat in Galway West and that the multi seat constituencies and the nature of our proportional representation system mean that votes for emigrants might distort the votes cast on this island. However, I could not help reflecting on the initiative undertaken by the Minister in introducing electronic voting. How could the policy be implemented now that the paper element has been removed?