Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

It was not Castlepollard.

I welcome and applaud the salutary actions of the Garda last weekend. I saw some quite sheepish men getting out of a car when they were apprehended. I said "Well done" to the gardaí involved. The fact that the issue has been highlighted is terrific. We should applaud gardaí for their vigilance over the weekend, even though there were deaths, which are always appalling.

Senator O'Toole referred to the national partnership and IBEC. I read recently in a newspaper that Turlough O'Sullivan, the head of IBEC, stated that talks had to break on Good Friday because of the stations of the cross but that IBEC was the only group doing the stations of the cross because it was so lumbered. I go along with many of the Senator's points. We had a debate on the issue but we can look for a further debate and ascertain whether the Minister will come to the House. The talks are going on for ever.

Senator O'Meara asked whether, due to the democratic deficit, our input would be heard if we had a debate. That is the point. The Senator stated that resources are needed for local authorities to undertake a proper electoral audit. The accident and emergency debate will be taken in the House next week, which should be very instructive.

Senator Kitt referred to the electoral register. One can pick out the Members who are going forward for election because they are all talking about this issue. In the period before the draft register is published in November, if the councils authenticate the names that have been put forward, there is no need for gardaí, peace commissioners or anyone else to sign the forms. When the draft register comes out in November, one must get the forms signed by an appropriate person. The Senator makes the point that people other than gardaí should be empowered to sign the forms at that stage. We hope we will have the two counties in the constituency well covered by then.

Senator Coghlan spoke about e-voting. The Taoiseach said clearly that when the independent commission, which is headed up by the eminent judge and of which the Clerk of the Seanad is a member, produces its report, the Government will be guided by it.