Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On that basis I will park the issue for another day. On the question of electronic voting and this morning's newspaper reports on it, whereas I do not agree with Senator Brian Hayes that we are one of the oldest democracies in Europe, though we are around for a while, a sufficient number of questions have now been asked about this issue to warrant it being addressed. The only way to do that is across the board. No one party has a greater political investment in this issue than another. This is all about giving popular legitimacy to the whole operation of balloting. There are too many questions. It is not a matter of the rights or the wrongs of it, but how people perceive it. If ever there was a situation where the perception is reality, this is it. The Government will have to readjust its position. This should not be made a party political issue. Questions have been raised and we all have a responsibility to address that issue in a fair and open way that gives people confidence in what we are doing. That is an issue we should examine. It is welcome that the Government is looking anew at it and it is now a question of how we move it on.

I am sure the House will agree that the decision taken by the Minister for Finance in regard to the shares of Eircom workers could not be seen in any way other than pro-worker and pro-employer and recognising their contribution. It is incorrect to see it as pro or anti a particular company or anti the shareholders of the company. It did what has always been the case and what we have always asked of successive Ministers for Finance of whatever party. This issue was dealt with by Labour Party, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Ministers at various times, all of whom have taken particular decisions. I welcome the decision and regard it as the correct one. I ask that the Leader also——