Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I compliment the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, for coming to the House to take this motion. He is a great attender of this House and I applaud him for that.

I welcome the Green Party motion which has the full support of the Fine Gael Party. This is an important issue and today's debate is only the start of the wide-ranging discussion we need on the matter. It is only right that the Minister would set up a tender process to examine how the system will be structured. A great deal of work and an enormous effort is involved in the compilation of the electoral register, on polling day and in counting votes. A large cohort of people is involved in ensuring the democratic process works well.

I agree with what Senator Coffey said about voting machines. The Minister acknowledged Senator Coffey's point but he should make an immediate decision to sell the machines.