Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 76:

In page 18, paragraph 3, lines 19 to 22, to delete all words from and including "by" in line 19 down to and including "representation." in line 22 and substitute the following:

"on the basis of any appropriate in-house arrangements. In the absence of in-house arrangements voting in the poll shall take place by secret ballot on a day or days to be decided by a returning officer.".

The purpose of the amendment is to widen the scope of polling methods available and leave the proportional representation method as a fall-back. The current provision ties down organisations and is too restrictive. I urge the Minister of State to accept the amendment which proposes to introduce greater flexibility.