Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will make the decision to scrap the electronic voting machines currently in storage; his views on the 25 year storage contracts entered into by a number of returning officers; if allowance has been made for depreciation of these machines; if it is his intention to follow the example of the authorities in the Netherlands and to abandon electronic voting for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35145/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am aware of recent developments in the Netherlands in relation to electronic voting, including an official report which recommends a move away from the current electronic voting system in operation in that country. I understand that the Dutch Parliament will debate the report in the New Year. My Department also maintains contact with other developments internationally in relation to electronic voting.

As far as our own jurisdiction is concerned, the House will recall that the Commission on Electronic Voting in its Final Report last year concluded that the voting equipment chosen for use in Ireland could be used, subject to further work which it also recommended.

As I have already indicated to the House, I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to this project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, relevant experiences and developments internationally, and the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the Programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally.

Responsibility for storage of manual voting equipment has always been a matter for the local returning officers and so similar responsibility was assigned to them in regard to the electronic voting equipment. In the majority of cases, leases were entered into by them for the storage of the machines, which have a 20-year lifespan. The Government decision to centralise storage of the electronic voting equipment was made taking into account a range of factors, including costs of local and centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.