Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I have a doubt when the Minister of State says the biggest threat is to the voting machines and that they are stand alone. I am not talking about stand alone pieces of equipment but the software that goes into them in the preparation of it, probably months and years before. That somebody can install into the software a flawed system so that somebody is able to wreck the system with a virus, is a matter that is not covered. If it is covered under the 2002 Act there is no indictment. Therefore, the most one can be fined is the same as if one impersonated somebody. The Bill is flawed in this area and has to be corrected. Otherwise we are passing legislation that is flawed. I realise the Minister of State said he would bring it to the attention of the commission and see what it recommends. We are here to create good legislation. It will not be good legislation if the shortfall in its integrity is to be solved by drawing the attention of the commission to it in the hope it will solve the problem. It is flawed and it has to be corrected at this stage. It would be better not to pass the Bill today which is flawed in that manner.

Amendment put.