Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Exactly. The electronic voting machine is like Murphy's law. It is like going in to Dunnes Stores and getting a receipt. It is cold, uninviting, non-participatory and, dare I say it, takes away from the cut and thrust of the old blood battle. I say that unashamedly. One cannot beat being in Neptune Stadium or City Hall on the day of a count and we are all there in all our emotions, in good and bad, winning and losing. That is part of politics, especially local politics because that is about community.

I would be a little concerned regarding the issue of nomination for elections. I do not want to make it exclusive. I spoke earlier about the issue of expenses. I have a genuine concern that we will make politics the preserve of the rich and of a few when democracy is not about that. Democracy should be about all of us participating, be it running for office or being involved in or organising campaigns.