James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 7, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:

"'source code' means the data which defines the principles or logic governing the operation of a system of electronic voting;".

The integrity and security of the voting system is fundamental to the exercise of democracy. Machines and their operating software must be subject to the most rigorous and comprehensive testing regimes. The Bill needs a little more definition in this regard.

Last December, at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Local Government, members requested that the Minister suspend all further expenditure on the system following the discovery by experts of errors in its software. However, the Minister chose to ignore that evidence. It is important there is full transparency in the system.

The Minister proposed the introduction of e-voting for the local and European elections. However, people are now aware of the problems with the system and know it cannot be trusted. The Minister did not listen to what the experts had to say in this regard. It is important there is full transparency in this area.