James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 11, subsection (1), between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:

"(a) in paragraph 4, "20th December" for "25th November",".

Amendments Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, are dependent on the acceptance of amendment No. 6. It proposes extending the deadline to the end of January. The Minister extended the deadline by a mere two weeks following much pressure, but that is not enough time. I have spoken to the staff in various local authorities throughout the country and they are at their wits end trying to amend the draft register by that deadline. Voting registration is a problem, which is blatantly evident in some areas. The Minister was made aware of this problem by myself, other spokespersons in this House, local authorities and the media but he refused to act. He only consented to extend the deadline by a short period at the eleventh hour.

I have called in recent years for the Minister to act on this matter in time to avoid total confusion. We now face a situation where thousands of people are at risk of having to go to the revision court to get their name restored to the register of electors in time for next year's general election. That is not fair. All I ask the Minister to do is to extend the deadline to the end of January. This could and should be done. We make the rules and regulations. The decision to extend the date rests with us, the politicians. I would very much appreciate if the Minister took on board this proposal.

It is not acceptable today for the register of electors to be in its current state. The Minister admitted that today and in the past but it was at the eleventh hour. He was arrogant about the register in some of his earlier statements to the effect that it was as good as could be expected. We are only months away from a general election and it is important to ensure the register is correct. This is typical of how the current Administration operates; it delayed extending the deadline and extended it by only a mere two weeks after much pressure. The Minister did not do that voluntarily but as a result of pressure brought to bear from the Opposition.

I am a foot soldier on the ground and I have listened to people and staff who are compiling the register and they want the deadline to be further extended. The Minister might take on board this proposal and extend the deadline until the end of January. That is what this amendment seeks.