Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is interesting. Deputy Howlin had responsibility for the general election of 1997, the referenda in 1995 on divorce and in 1996 on bail, the local elections in 1994 and the European elections. I do not know if Deputy Howlin was the party's director of elections and I am not concerned about it.

The late John Boland, who was Minister for the Environment in 1986 and 1987, had responsibility for the referendum on the Single European Act and former Deputy Liam Kavanagh, who was in office from 1983 to 1986, was responsible for the European elections in 1984 and the 1984 referendum to give UK citizens voting rights in general elections. There was also a referendum on divorce in 1986 and local elections were held in 1985. All were decent, honourable people. I have not checked if they were directors of elections but even if they were, I would not have a difficulty with it. I accept that the Opposition has to make political points but, as Senator Dardis pointed out, few sections in the Bill give the Minister any authority apart from in the areas specified, particularly the case of exceptional circumstances.

Senator Hayes referred to the independence of the franchise section of the Department. In practical terms, the franchise section is as independent as it can be without legislation to confer that independence. Senator Hayes and Senator Dardis alluded to this but they appear to be thinking of a type of electoral commission. However, that is a debate for another day. It is a wider and deeper issue which could, presumably, be considered at another time. The Irish electorate has every confidence in the franchise section. That is not to say the Senator does not; he stated that he had confidence in the franchise section——