James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 7, line 10, after "counting votes" to insert "in a non-random way".

This amendment relates to the random nature of the manual system of counting. Several Senators referred to this, having encountered problems in both local and general elections, although I do not think this arose in European elections. These flaws in the system are being carried into the new e-voting system but they should be eliminated and a better system should be devised. The voting machines produced have flaws, as was pointed out at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government. However, the Government did not pay heed to those flaws, as it was intent on railroading this system through. I compliment the independent commission again on its findings. Although it did not refer directly to this matter, we would have had the system, warts and all, if the Government had been allowed to go ahead with it.