Head over to our T
Who’s the Dick responsible for this mess?
Read more about: Democracy, Fianna Fail, Irish Politics 
I see the Government, and in particular the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche, are sweating profusely now after the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night told the Dáil that the electoral system could be open to voter fraud if the register is not properly updated before the next General Election.
In a farcical state of affairs (no pun intended), it has emerged that 17,000 people eligible to vote in the Dublin South-East constituency are not registered and a further 15,000 people who have died or moved from the area are still on the register.
Mr Ahern told TDs that local authority officials and Census enumerators would have to go door-to-door to update the Electoral Register:
“I am afraid it will have to be a shank’s mare exercise, which is the only way we will get a good register.
“We need to take on that challenge this year. Otherwise, with far too many people on the register, it is open to voter fraud.”
Mr Ahern added that there were houses in his own constituency where up to 80 people were registered.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said Environment Minister Dick Roche should not be blaming local authorities as the responsibility rested with his department.
Mr Ahern replied that the Electoral Acts give powers to Mr Roche who then delegates them to the local authorities.
Mr Rabbitte summed things up in a fashion that was as fitting as it was funny:
“The Taoiseach spent Easter paying homage to the founders of the state. He is now administering a state where we cannot even have the right to vote, although he admits that he provides for the dead generations to vote. How are we supposed to take this seriously?”
Indeed. It seems only in this country could this kind of incompetent boobery take place.
As if that wasn’t worrying enough for the Government, the Irish Examiner has reported on a warning from Labour Party TD Eamon Gilmore that the Government might be forced to pay out compensation to voters if they are denied their constitutional right to vote.
I think it’s really embarrassing beyond belief that we are now faced with a situation where, rather than Fianna Fáil asking the electorate for their votes, the electorate are actually asking Fianna Fáil for the right to vote.
Soldiers of destiny? More like debility.
If there are house in Dublin Central with 80 people registered then why has Bertie’s local organisation not queried that? Could it be because those 80 know who to vote for?
Good point, Dan.
It’s not as if this problem began in 1997. It is the fault of successive govts. Ask the same questions of them as to inaction. At least something will probably be done about it now – provided selfish unions don’t get in the way. And anyway if you look at 2004 the Red C polls were pretty close to the outcome. There may be scope for massive fraud but as of yet little evidence it has taken place.
So it is the fault of governments from before 1997 that people who were not on the register then are on it now who either don’t exist or are not entitled to vote or who have died since 1997 and are still on it? Really?
What about the abolition of the postal vote for Irish citizens overseas? Why was this policy introduced? Isn’t it a fundamental as an Irish citizen to have the right to vote?
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/registering-to-vote