Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

As regards the second part of Senator Quinn's amendment to which the Minister of State referred, I still do not agree with the proposition that electronic voting can only be introduced once the commission gives it the thumbs up. That is a bizarre way to proceed. This matter can only be advanced when it receives cross-party support. I do not want to stray into another amendment but we are in effect handing over the introduction of an electronic voting system to a commission, albeit an important, independent group of eminent people, when it should be introduced on the basis of cross-party support in both Houses. The reason I disagree with the Minister of State's view is that once the commission gives the green light to a proposal on electronic voting, the entire system can be operated without recourse to the Houses of the Oireachtas and the major parties in terms of how it is advanced. That is a daft way to proceed.