Martin Cullen E-voting delay is rejected
At the Committee stage of the European Parliament Elections Bill, the amendment, from Labour's Eamon Gilmore, was defeated by eight votes to four.
Deputy Gilmore claimed the Government would walk the country into a crisis of confidence over the voting system if it refused to listen to the concerns of the Opposition parties.
Fine Gael's Bernard Allen said he had never come across a more arrogant minister than Martin Cullen, who he said was refusing to listen.
Earlier, Minister of State Pat the Cope Gallagher said his legal advice was that electronic voting could be introduced by way of Ministerial Order, rather than primary legislation, despite the recent Supreme Court decision in the Carrickmines case.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told Labour leader Pat Rabbitte in the Dáil that no such Ministerial Order will be required, but he later wrote to Deputy Rabbitte saying he was incorrect.
The issue was raised in the Dáil this morning by Richard Bruton of Fine Gael, Deputy Rabbitte, and other Opposition speakers.
They pointed out that since the High Court decision last month in the Carrickmines case, there were doubts about the legality of bringing in changes through Ministerial Order rather than primary legislation.
The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, said that the Attorney General's advice would have to be sought on the constitutional status of any Order in the light of the recent High Court decision.
Govt to withdraw publicity material
In a related matter, the Government has agreed to withdraw publicity material about electronic voting after complaints from Fine Gael that it was biased.
Junior Environment Minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, said around 1,000 copies of a leaflet which had been printed will be withdrawn and that the website will be changed.
Fine Gael's Bernard Allen had complained that the leaflet showed someone using an electronic machine to vote for Fianna Fáil, while there was no mention on the website of a Fine Gael candidate in the European elections.
