Derek McDowell (Labour)

I endorse and support the proposal made by the leader of the Fine Gael Party in the House, Senator Brian Hayes. This is the first opportunity the House has had to discuss, however briefly, the interim report of the Commission on Electronic Voting. It is important that we should give it a good deal more time than that which is proposed. It is clear that we should be told in advance whether the Government intends to proceed with the debate planned for Friday, which would be farcical. The commission's report is a serious one. It constitutes a damning indictment of the judgment of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. Not only did he seek to railroad through what we now know to be unproven technology — I will not put it more strongly than that — but he did so with a breathtaking arrogance.