Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

This issue was discussed at length at the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The bottom line is that we must have a complete register by 14 February and the next general election will depend on that. The Minister's extension is to be welcomed and I understand that it was at the behest of a small number of local authorities who were not in a position to provide the required information. Whether it is the media or the Opposition that is putting pressure on him, this Minister caves in to neither. The bottom line is that we must have the register in place. The further one pushes out these deadlines, the less likely the register will be in place. It is crucial that we get as much of this work done now. It is open to everyone to apply to go on the supplementary register for the next general election. We use that fact in my own constituency to encourage people to put themselves forward for the supplementary register. It is quite a simple process. They must get it signed by a garda, but that is not an issue for most people, especially if they have nothing to hide. The bottom line is that we need a register.