Joe O'Toole (Independent)

If that is the case, why were the problems not brought to the attention of the Houses, particularly the Seanad? There is something completely and utterly wrong about that. We need to discuss the matter. Most of us feel it should be considered. I do not know if we were misled by choice or inadvertently. Members on all sides could suggest better ways to use the €50 million that has been spent on the misuse of the electronic voting proposals.

I speak as someone who supported electronic voting until the last debate we had on the matter, when I said that sufficient doubt had been created to bring about a change of mind. I am on the record as having changed my mind in that regard. I ask the House to consider what I said. If this issue is to be dealt with, it can only be dealt with on a non-party basis. I made that point on the last two occasions on which we discussed the matter. The decision should not be in the hands of a political party. The Government should not have an interest in the matter, apart from the individual interests of public representatives. There is no reason it should not be dealt with in an all-party fashion, with all concerns being taken into consideration. I ask the Chair to take on board the issue of whether the House was misled. I intend to raise the issue at a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

It is hard for Independent Members to keep up with the many changes that are taking place. Every time we check, it seems that Fianna Fáil has had another change in its configuration.