Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he considered the time frame appropriate between the advertisement for registration of postal votes for the Lisbon reform referendum and the deadline for such registrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20894/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Postal voting is provided for in respect of certain categories of person as specified in electoral law. Electors who are eligible for, but not already included on, the postal voters list may apply for entry on the supplement to this list and they can do this at any time. However, in accordance with electoral law, such persons must apply for inclusion on the supplement to the postal voters list not later than two days after a polling day order is made at a referendum, if they wish to avail of a postal vote at that referendum.

As the polling day order fixes the polling day, it is not possible to advertise the definitive closing date for the postal voters' supplement in advance of the order being made. The polling day order for the Lisbon Treaty Referendum was made on 12 May and, accordingly, the closing date for the supplement to the postal voters list was 14 May. My Department notified advertisements to the print media immediately on the making of the polling day order and these were widely published on the 13 and 14 May. In addition, the Referendum Commission website www.lisbontreaty2008.ie, which went live on 18 April, contained detailed information relating to voter registration for the referendum, including requirements in relation to the supplement to the postal voters list.