Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost to his Department related to the two Nice treaty referenda. [21752/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Costs were incurred in the administration of the postal vote facility for Permanent Defence Force, PDF, personnel and in the transport by the Defence Forces of ballot papers to and from certain offshore islands by helicopter. Due to the nature of their duties, PDF personnel are provided with a postal vote facility. When an election or referendum is called, the military authorities are responsible for the sorting and preparation of postal votes for distribution to all military units both at home and overseas.

Full detailed figures in respect of the costs incurred by this Department in respect of the activities outlined above are not readily available. However, an outline of the approximate additional costs incurred by the Department, where available, in respect of military pay over and above normal pay and allowances and other non-pay items relating to the second Nice referendum held on 19 October 2002 is set out in the following table. An approximately similar figure would have been expended on the first Nice referendum.