Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 621: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to comments (details supplied) by Deputy Griffin if he plans to legislate to hold all future polling days at weekends, that all polling clerks, presiding officers and count staff would be chosen from the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27156/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unemployed persons taken off the live register to work at polling stations on the referendum day 31 May 2012. [27182/12]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 628: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the terms and conditions for the hiring of poll clerks and presiding officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27212/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 621, 624 and 628 together.

The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in accordance with the relevant provisions of electoral law. Accordingly, there is no information in my Department about the number of election staff chosen from the live register.

To assist returning officers, my Department issues guidance to them in advance of each election and referendum. The guidance emphasises that the smooth conduct of polls is dependent on maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people. Having regard to that overall objective, returning officers are advised to employ competent and efficient persons as polling staff and asked to give consideration, where possible, to employing suitable persons who are unemployed.

The Electoral Acts allow for the taking of a poll on any day of the week, and this flexibility allows all relevant factors to be taken into account at any given time in setting the polling day.