Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Subsection (5) clarifies the position for presiding officers where a person leaves a polling station. This is the current position in polling stations where paper ballots are used. Once a person is marked off the register of electors, a second ballot paper would not be issued if that person were to leave a polling station. A voter must vote without undue delay and should leave the polling station as soon as she or he has voted. Voters cannot be allowed to depart the polling station without voting and then return. There must be discipline.

If the amendment were accepted, it would give rise to circumstances in which impersonation could occur, and I do not think Members would want to provide such opportunities. It could also lead to lack of order in the control of polling station activity. We have had long experience of working the system and most people accept the responsibility of presiding officers. The system has worked well and it would be wrong to amend it. I will not accept the amendment as it is unnecessary.