Rónán Mullen (Independent)

The calls from the Independent benches and Senator Hanafin for Seanad reform and the call from my fellow east Galwegian Senator Healy Eames on electoral reform relate to the engagement of the public with the political process. While I know the House has debated electronic voting in the recent past, it would be timely for the Leader to arrange for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to engage in debate with us in the House once more on the issue, particularly in the light of the latest developments in The Netherlands. In the past month an official report has criticised the transparency of electronic voting there and a Dutch judge has found that the use of electronic machines in the recent election in The Netherlands was unauthorised.