asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that there was an irregularity in the transfer of the surplus of one of the candidates in the recent election for Mountmellick Town Commissioners; that this apparently resulted in the wrong candidate being declared elected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A copy of the statutory notice of the result of the election which was furnished to me by the returning officer for the recent election of Mountmellick Town Commissioners indicates that such an irregularity occurred. I have requested the returning officer to submit a report on the matter.

Is this the election which resulted in seven Fine Gael candidates being elected out of nine seats? Does the Minister want a further election in which the two Fianna Fáil candidates will lose their seats?

This was the count the incorrect conduct of which produced the result to which the Deputy refers.

If the Minister considers that there should be a reelection, I should advice him not to do so because the two elected Fianna Fáil candidates will not be re-elected.

I am answering a question which I was asked. The reply is to the effect that the returning officer in this case dealt with one surplus in an irregular manner, in a manner different from that in which other surpluses were dealt with.

It made no difference whatsoever. It helped one of the Fianna Fáil candidates to get the last seat.

No, it cannot be established exactly without an examination of the ballot papers, but certainly it would appear as if this incorrect handling of the count resulted in a person being elected who would not have been elected.

Does the Minister agree that the returning officer dealt correctly with five other surpluses and dealt wrongly with the surplus of this candidate, and that if the count had been carried out according to the rules, another candidate would have been elected, a candidate who was wrongfully deprived of his seat? Will the Minister state if the position will be rectified?

As I said, it is not possible to say exactly what effect this wrongful carrying out of the distribution of this particular surplus had without examining the ballot papers, but it would appear from the figures as they were returned that the result of the incorrect procedure was as Deputy Egan has said.

Surely there is a procedure for questioning this other than for Deputy Egan to put down a question to ask the Minister for Local Government to express an opinion? No recount was demanded and the matter can be dealt with properly.

There was.

If a Deputy asks a question, I answer it.

They are licking their wounds after yesterday—15 Fine Gael to seven Fianna Fáil.