Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the requirement that people applying to be on the supplementary register must go to a Garda station should be removed. [10128/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The compilation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for the appropriate local authority in accordance with electoral law. A person who is not on the register may apply for inclusion on the supplement to the register up to 15 days before polling day. Applications must be received by the relevant city or county council not later than Monday 18 May in order to vote at the local and European elections on 5 June 2009. Application forms for inclusion on the supplement to the register, Form RFA 2, are widely available from local authorities, post offices, Garda stations, public libraries, and local authority websites, and can be downloaded from www.checktheregister.ie.

In making voter registration as accessible as possible, it is important to have appropriate measures in place to guard against potential personation or abuse of the electoral system. It is, therefore, a legal requirement that completed application forms for inclusion on the supplement to the register are witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochána before being returned to the appropriate local authority. If a person cannot for stated reasons attend their local Garda station, their application may be witnessed by an official of the local authority. If because of a physical illness or physical disability, a person cannot attend either their local Garda station or their local authority, their application form can be accompanied by a medical certificate.

I am concerned to ensure that the legislative and administrative arrangements in place in relation to registration are as flexible and user friendly as possible consistent with maintaining the security and integrity of the electoral process. While I will continue to keep current practice under review, I am satisfied that the present arrangements strike a reasonable balance.