Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if audit logs are available from the electronic voting machines used in the general election of 2002; if so, the location at which these logs can be viewed; the contents of same; if audit logs are available for the counting computers used to tally the votes from the different machines used in the general election; if so, the location at which these logs can be viewed; the contents of same; and if he has satisfied himself that the aforementioned logs are complete and accurate. [13747/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A number of different audit facilities are available on the electronic voting machines and the computers to aggregate and count the votes cast. The equipment was used in Meath, Dublin North and Dublin West, the pilot constituencies at the May 2002 general election. Following a review of the use of the system in 2002, a number of improvements were made in the procedures for recording and reconciling election data. The Commission on Electronic Voting confirmed in its first report, published in December 2004, that the system accurately counted the votes recorded at the pilot polls in 2002.

Responsibility for any records associated with the operation of the audit facilities lies with the Dáil returning officers for the constituencies concerned. Section 129 of the Electoral Act 1992 provides for the retention, and disposal after a period of six months from the date of the poll, of specified documents related to a Dail election. These documents include the counted ballot papers, ballot paper accounts and marked copies of the register. These provisions have been applied to electronic voting by section 46 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001. If the Deputy provides more specific details on the information sought, I will endeavour to be of assistance.