Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Last week, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, correctly referred to the constitutional and civil right of citizens to cast their ballot as they so decide. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, appears to have forced the Government to make a U-turn on the issue. As Senator Dardis stated, the secrecy of the ballot is sacrosanct and was so upheld in the McMahon v. the Attorney General case of 1972, which was later unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court. As we know, if someone enters a polling booth——