Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the programme of work which has been undertaken by his Department to address the recommendations of the interim report of the Commission on Electronic Voting; the recommendations to which this work relates; when he expects this programme of work to be completed and submitted to the commission for review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3902/05]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will make a decision on electronic voting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4015/05]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the first report of the Commission on Electronic Voting which was published on 15 December 2004; his plans for the use of the electronic voting system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in regard to the electronic voting technology; if it is intended to modify, alter or adapt the equipment for alternative use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4299/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 138, 160 and 288 together.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2004 confirms the policy objective of electronic voting and counting at Irish elections and maintains the mandate to my Department from the Oireachtas to work towards implementation of this objective.

In this context, my Department is developing, in parallel with the continuing work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, a programme of further assessment, testing and validation which is intended to address the concerns raised in the commission's interim report published last April, and its more detailed first report published in December, on the secrecy and accuracy of the chosen electronic voting and counting system.

The objective of this programme will be to demonstrate to the commission and to the public that the Nedap-Powervote electronic voting system, which was selected following detailed assessment of the requirements to be met in Irish electoral conditions and the holding of an open international tender competition, is suitable to be used at Irish elections. I am giving full consideration to the views of the commission and I will ensure that its analysis will inform and guide the programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the system. I intend, therefore, that all of the commission's recommendations for action should be appropriately addressed in the work ahead.

The timing of the further use of the system is dependent on the progress made with this programme of work and the dates on which future polls may be held.