Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

The system has been proven. Approximately 70 million people throughout Europe have used the system. India, like Ireland, is a huge producer of software and technology. When we know people can vote electronically from a remote desert or mountain area and we have a result within an hour, we must ask ourselves why we are resisting, especially considering our current system. We have all been involved in tallies and while they may be entertaining at the time, they are archaic. In some cases we spend thousands of euro of taxpayers money on counts which carry on for three or four days.

The electronic system, when introduced and despite the money spent on the infrastructure, will save us money in the long run. We will save on count staff, security and time, which are all paid for with taxpayers money. We should consider countries like India and how it introduced a system for hundreds of millions of people. We have a population of less than 4 million, only a percentage of whom vote.

We must encourage our young people to participate in elections. There has been some talk of introducing votes for people of 16 years of age, yet we cannot get our 18, 20 or 30 year olds to vote. We must attract people to the process and persuade them to exercise their franchise. We must make it accessible for them so that they are in a position to take up the options that exist to enable them to have their say. It is incumbent on all of us to do that.

I welcome the Bill. It is essential that the commission is placed on a statutory footing. Certain processes have to be put in place for the future and that is exactly what this Bill does.