John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, would have been here only for he is on Government business this evening.

The primary role of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in electoral matters, is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework local returning officers are responsible for all matters connected with the conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling staff in accordance with the relevant provision of the electoral law. To assist returning officers the Department issues guidance to them in advance of each election and referendum. That guidance emphasises that the smooth conduct of polls is dependent on maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people. Having regard to the overall objective of the smooth conduct of the polls, returning officers are advised to employ competent and efficient persons as polling staff. They are also asked to give consideration, wherever possible, to employing suitable persons who are unemployed and that point was raised by Senator Conway. The approach taken in the Department's guidance strikes the right balance. Clearly, there are competent unemployed individuals who could, with the appropriate training, undertake duties relating to the conduct of polls. However, it would be unwise to dispense entirely with the experience and skills of all of those who have successfully undertaken the role in previous elections and refrendums. That is not what the Senator proposes.

We are dealing with the fundamentals of our democracy. When someone votes at a polling station the tasks undertaken by polling station staff may seem quite straightforward to anyone familiar with electoral matters. However, polling staff must be able to deal, in accordance with the electoral law, with the myriad of problems that can arise on a case by case basis. They must also be capable of carrying out the detailed instructions at the end of the poll, such as the completion of the ballot paper counts and handling spoiled ballot papers and the marked copy of the electoral register for their stations. Many of these tasks are critical for the next stage, the count.

To assist in maintaining consistency and the highest standards at polling stations the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government issues a manual for presiding officers at each election and referendum. Local returning officers supplement this with appropriate training to ensure that all staff are familiar with their tasks and responsibilities. Clearly, previous experience is important in building up the type of knowledge and understanding that ensures a successful conduct of polls. The correct approach is for returning officers to continue blending experience with new talent and that is important. Earlier the point was raised that opportunity should be given to people whenever possible. The Department will continue to encourage local returning officers to employ suitable unemployed people wherever possible for the conduct of the polls. Returning officers should do so while maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people to ensure that elections and referendums are conducted to the highest of standards.