Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 64:

In page 22, 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 Bill provides that where the number of candidates on the nomination day exceeds the number of members to be elected to a forum, a poll shall be taken on the basis of any appropriate in-house arrangements. It further provides that in the absence of in-house arrangements, voting in the polls shall take place by secret ballot on a day or days to be decided by a returning officer. The whole concept of this is to widen the scope of poll methods available and to leave the system we have as a fallback. I believe the use of the words "proportional representation" in the Bill is too elaborate, so the amendment is worthy of consideration.