Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The Leader will be aware that the Government is planning to roll out electronic voting next year for local and European elections to ensure people can vote by the electronic method in each polling station throughout the country. There is general support for this even though it will cost approximately €38 million this year to implement the proposal. Both principal Opposition parties have raised questions about the security system in place for the new system of voting. It is important to have a debate in this House with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who can take questions on the issue from all sides over approximately 40 minutes. As the integrity of the ballot is the cornerstone of our democracy, it is important that there is confidence in the security system and that there is acceptance from all parties. Will the Leader make time available for such a debate over the next week or so? It would be a worthwhile debate because it is important that all the questions on the issue are answered before the system is rolled out.

I agree fully with Senator John Paul Phelan's comments yesterday when he asked the Leader to organise a debate on the arts and funding for the arts. We are approaching the centenary of the founding of the Abbey Theatre, our great national theatre in Dublin, which was established in 1903. The first performance took place in 1904. The Leader will be aware that there is a huge debate in Dublin and throughout the country about the future of the Abbey – whether it is to be moved, future funding for the theatre and the proposals from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism about this great national institution. Will she make time available for a debate in this House to allow discussion not just on the general issue of arts but also to allow the Abbey Theatre and its future role in this great city to be debated and teased out?