asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider extending the postal vote to disabled persons.

16.

asked the Minister for Local Government why members of the Irish merchant navy are not granted the same facilities to vote in general elections as members of the Defence Forces are in Ireland and as members of the British merchant navy are in British elections.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.

Under existing law postal voting is confined to members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. Persons in the Irish merchant navy do not, therefore, qualify for a postal vote. However, as I indicated in the House on 3rd May last, I intend to have the question of postal voting facilities examined again. The position of disabled persons and persons in the merchant navy will be considered in the context of this review.

It is nice to have that sort of positive reply from the Minister.

I should like to sneak this one in. Representatives of firms are on the roads to the number of about 5,000 and when the Minister is redrafting the legislation on this matter he might consider those people also.

I will be glad to do so.