Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

When the Minister cogitates about electoral register reform and the process leading to it, he might consider my strong belief that there should be no opinion polls for approximately three weeks before the vote. Padraig Flynn, a much demonised person now, introduced an amendment in the Seanad to a local authority Bill with regard to voting and opinion polls which was voted down, although I am not blaming those who voted it down. Be that as it may, opinion polls alter the way people intend to vote. For the election period and the tight three weeks between names being registered and voting day, opinion polls should not be allowed in any constituency. I know Deputy Hogan has put this point strongly on behalf of Fine Gael. However, I am not saying this to engage the interest of the Opposition but because it causes distortion.

Far worse than opinion polls are planted opinion polls, such as was carried out in Meath and given to a local newspaper despite being completely incorrect. What chance has a candidate going forward for election? I distinctly remember that one week before the election in 2002 a local newspaper, the Westmeath Independent, which is the Athlone newspaper, stated my poll results were so impossibly high I would break all barriers. When I called at a door after that, people asked why I was coming around or why was I killing myself canvassing. It was difficult to change that perception.

This area would make for a very fertile Private Members' Bill, although the Minister might have his own ideas on that.