James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 5, before section 1, to insert the following new section:

1. —(1) No electronic voting system may be adopted for use in an election or referendum unless all parties in Dáil Éireann are in agreement on all aspects of the adoption and use of a particular system of electronic voting.

(2) Nothing in this Act or any other enactment shall permit the trial, implementation or use of a system of electronic voting in any election or referendum save in accordance with subsection (1).".

The Government must have forgotten that in June 2001 it promised that e-voting would not be introduced without all-party agreement. While some members may not have forgotten, the arrogance of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, forced the e-voting system through. Before legislating for e-voting in future, it is important that we get all-party agreement. The proposed new section provides that electronic voting cannot be used until there is all-party agreement. This amendment and amendment No. 17 are designed to make all-party agreement a prerequisite to the introduction of any new system of voting.

Amendment No. 18 seeks to insert "by order" after "may". This amendment reminds us that we live in a democracy. Since we achieved out independence we have tried to promote this issue. We must try to reclaim some of the respect we have lost in the intervening years. There is a general outcry and apathy among the electorate about the way politics in this country has gone over the years. This section proposes that the Fianna Fáil director of elections is to be empowered to give instructions to returning officers. In the interest of returning some semblance of balance to the system any instructions given by him must be by way of a ministerial order. Another amendment in my name proposes that a draft of such an order must be laid before the House for its approval. I hope the Minister will accept this amendment in the interest of total transparency.