Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am talking in regard to the people implementing this on the ground currently. We can have all the theory we like, but I must talk to people on the ground in regard to the practical implementation of the process. That is what I did. Arrangements need to be put in place very soon after the close of nominations in an election and returning officers need more time to attend to the tasks relating to postal and special voting than is the case in regard to voting at polling stations. Take for example the case of our military serving abroad. Ballot papers must be printed and distributed as soon as possible and must then be returned safely and on time to returning officers around the country. All of this takes time, more time than would be available if the amendments proposed were accepted.

The main criticism levelled at the postal and special voter supplement that I set out to address in this Bill is that, where there is a long gap between the date on which the polling day order is made and polling day itself, the existing law is unnecessarily restrictive. For example, under current arrangements, a polling day order for next year's local elections will be made no later than 50 to 60 days before polling day, requiring applications for inclusion in the supplement to the postal and special voters' list to be made no later than 48 to 58 days before polling day. Under the proposed new arrangements, such applications would be made in advance of 21 days before polling day, excluding Sundays and public holidays, giving people an additional 24 to 34 days to apply to the registration authority for inclusion in the supplementary register. I think that is a major improvement. This does not apply to by-elections or general elections, but the tight time that could arise between the moving of the writ or the making of the polling day order on polling day would make this unworkable.

It is open to people to apply for inclusion on the supplementary register and postal lists at any time. People often leave it until the last minute, including those who sometimes criticise us for the fact that they are not on the registration list. We are all engaged in trying to make it as easy as possible for people who, for one reason or another, wait until an election or referendum is called. We should make improvements. We are making improvements in this Bill, but we want to make sure they are workable. I understand where Senator Mac Conghail and the Independent Senators are coming from. We have made a major improvement and I am prepared to look at this again and look at other ways in which we can improve registration in the context of the electoral commission, which we will be discussing in 2014.