asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the relevant section of the Electoral Acts which makes it an offence to bribe or attempt to bribe a person in order to obtain votes at the general and local elections; and if any persons were charged or convicted for offences under this section during or following the last such elections.

Section 2 of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923, makes bribery an offence at General Elections. This is applied to Local Elections by the Local Elections Order, 1942, made under Section 39 and the Third Schedule of the Local Government Act, 1941.

No person was charged with the offence of bribery during or following the last General or Local Elections.

The Minister gives the impression that we are all saints but we are not. I am satisfied that there is wholesale bribery by people who believe that by being public representatives they will add much to their income and spend money liberally bribing people.

Is the Deputy asking a question?

I am telling the Minister. The Minister said no one was charged.

The Deputy will have to take some other opportunity to tell the Minister that. This is Question Time.

I should like the Minister to know that there is wholesale bribery and it is his duty to get the Attorney General to act.

He will not act.

You need only spread a few hundred pounds around and you are elected.

I have stated what are the facts.

It is a show. Your section is a joke.

The Deputy is disappointed with the truth.

Your section is a joke. Nobody was ever charged.