James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 10, before section 10, to insert the following new section:

"10.—The Act of 1992 is amended by the substitution of the following for section 7:

"7.—(1) A person shall be entitled to be registered as a presidential elector in a constituency if he has reached the age of eighteen years and if he was, on the qualifying date—

(a) a citizen of Ireland, and

(b) ordinarily resident in that constituency.

(2) A person who reaches the age of eighteen years and is or shall be, on the qualifying date——

(a) a citizen of Ireland, and

(b) ordinarily resident in that constituency,

shall be automatically registered as a presidential elector in the constituency referred to in paragraph (b), unless he or she instructs the registration authority otherwise.

(3) For the purposes of—

(i) the Presidential Elections Acts, 1937 to 1992,

(ii) the Referendum Acts, 1942 to 1992, and

(iii) this Act,

'presidential elector' means a person entitled to vote at an election of a person to the office of President of Ireland.

(4) In the Presidential Elections Acts, 1937 to 1992 "elector", when used alone, means a person described in subsection (1).".".

I propose in these amendments that all citizens should be added to the register automatically on turning 18 years of age. This is something on which we spoke in great detail on Second Stage and it would be a logical and self-regulating proposal. I have repeatedly called on the Minister to use PPS numbers to update the register which would be the simplest method. The equivalent of PPS numbers are used in Northern Ireland and the system there works in a very satisfactory manner. There have been no complaints with regard to registration in the northern part of this island. The Minister agreed the register here is a mess, a point we cannot move away from.

The electoral system belongs to the people and one political party should not have dominance over the electorate. It is the responsibility of the Minister of the day to preserve and enhance it as a driving mechanism for democracy. It is an important issue. The various amendments deal with presidential elections, general elections, European elections and local government elections and allow for the automatic registration of voters when they turn 18, which would allow those who do not wish to be on the register to opt out if they wish to do so.

Registration is not happening. A person contacted me today to tell me they had been on the register in my county of Longford for the best part of 45 years but were no longer on the register.