Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 571: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to develop a mechanism such as a postal voting system to allow citizens who are normally full-time residents in the State to vote in elections if they will be temporarily out of the country on polling day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17358/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In order to be able to vote at elections and referenda in this jurisdiction, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Subject to this primary requirement, postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of persons including those whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day (section 63 of the Electoral Act 1997). In these cases, the law provides for completion of the necessary voting documentation at a Garda station.

It is open to any such elector who is not already on the postal voters list to apply for inclusion on the supplement to the postal voters list. The closing date for such applications is 2 days after the dissolution of the Dáil at a general election or 2 days after the making of the polling day order at a referendum.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on plans for fixed term elections to Dáil Éireann or for mandating an independent body to set the date for all elections and referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17357/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under Article 13.2 of the Constitution, Dáil Éireann is summoned and dissolved by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach. It has a maximum term of 7 years or a shorter period as may be fixed by law, as provided for in Article 16.5; section 33 of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that the same Dáil shall not continue for a period longer than 5 years. Electoral and referendum law provides that polling dates are set by order of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. There are no proposals to alter these arrangements.