Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The independent commission whose task it was to examine e-voting issued a substantial report yesterday. It concluded that although the machines to be used for elections were fine, the system software that would ensure the correct functioning of those machines was defective. My opposition to this project from the beginning was based on the fact that it was not an all-party proposal. The Government can only change a fundamental part of our electoral system if it does so on a cross-party basis. Otherwise, the entire system is subject to ridicule. Instead of producing this Cabinet sub-committee that will study the matter again, for about the fifth time, could it make a definitive decision on this situation over the summer months? There cannot be confidence in the electoral system unless all parties participating in that system give it their full support. This has never happened in the case of e-voting. If the Government wishes to change the system of voting, I request it put it to a referendum. The Irish people are happy with and have confidence in the current system. It may be slow, arduous, protracted and so on, but there is confidence in it and anything that undermines confidence in the electoral system is negative and we must ensure this does not happen.

We were told that the introduction of e-voting would lead to substantial reductions in the costs of running elections. Some €55 million has now been spent on this initiative. What could have been built with that money? We could have built 20 four-teacher schools or advanced many other projects. There has been no political accountability relating to the decision taken by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, one lonely day in his office when he dreamed up this fiasco. It is time the Government came to a definitive decision on the matter and rather than meeting in conclave over the summer it should publicly state there will be no electronic voting system for the next general election and beyond.