Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prisoners' Voting Rights

7:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures being put in place to ensure that the maximum number of prisoners possible are allowed to exercise the franchise at the next election, following the enactment of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006; the steps being taken to create awareness of this entitlement among prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41924/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 108 of 7 November 2006.

The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006 has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and has been sent to the President for signature. The legislation provides for specific arrangements for prisoners to exercise their franchise by way of postal voting.

In accordance with the provisions of the legislation, relevant officials will be appointed in each prison who will be responsible for ensuring that prisoners who are eligible and wish to vote will be facilitated in exercising that right. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will be drawing up guidance for postal voting for prisoners and will consult with relevant officials from my Department on the matter. Within this framework, officials in the Irish Prison Service will prepare operating procedures that will allow for the practical arrangements to be put in place. Of course, it will be important to strike the right balance between, on the one hand, providing for and facilitating as much as possible a prisoner's right to vote and, on the other, the need to maintain an orderly and appropriate regime within our prisons.

It is important that steps are taken to help ensure that prisoners will be fully aware of their entitlement to vote and there are various mechanisms available in this regard. The legislation requires local authorities to give public notice of the availability of prisoner postal voting. Application forms and explanatory information will be made available by the local authorities and will be available in every prison. In addition, prisoners will be provided with details of their voting rights together with other information on the prison regime on their arrival in prison. Complementing that, it should be possible to arrange for appropriate posters to be devised advertising the new arrangements within the prisons. Leaflets can also be developed specifically for prisoners, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, for distribution by the Prison Service.

It is hoped to undertake and finalise the practical implementation of the legislation as quickly as possible.

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