Electronic Voting System
Mr. Gormley: Many people have asked me why the Government is proceeding with television advertisements on electronic voting when it has not even been agreed in this House. Is this not a further affront to the way we conduct business in the House. It does not seem to matter what happens in the House - the Government will go ahead with it regardless, as one Government backbencher said on a recent programme. Why does the panel not contain people recommended by the Opposition? If the Government was to be truly consultative about this and wanted to get an objective a result, we could have recommended people with real expertise in this area.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: As the Deputy is well aware, the contents of legislation are not open to discussion on the Order of Business.
Mr. Gormley: I would like the Minister to respond as he has responded to the previous questions.
Mr. Walsh: This legislation is a priority and will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity. I hope the Deputy is not casting any aspersions on the composition of the panel.
Mr. Allen: Not at all.
Mr. Walsh: They are eminent people and independent.
Mr. Gormley: They do not have the expertise and it has not been agreed in this House.