asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the concern among a large number of Irish citizens who are also USA citizens, residing in Ireland and anxious to vote in a general election but who cannot do so because the letter "L" appears after their names; and if he will issue instructions to county registrars to have the letter "L" deleted in such cases at the revision courts.

I am not so aware. Dual citizenship does not constitute a bar to registration as a Dáil elector, and county registrars are fully aware of this. Consequently, claimants in the situation referred to by the Deputy should have no difficulty in having the necessary corrections made.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are many people, perhaps over 1,000, who have the letter "L" after their names and who are not aware of the procedure for having the letter "L" deleted? The consequences are that they cannot vote in a general election. In view of this, would the Parliamentary Secretary issue instructions to county registrars to examine all these cases before the register for 1977-78 has been completed?

County registrars are aware of the situation. If the Deputy requests me to do so, I will take the matter up with the county registrars. I agree with the Deputy that there are some people with the letter "L" after their names and that it should not be there, but that is an error on the part of the people who compile the register.

(Dublin Central): Am I to take it that they will be entitled to vote with the letter “L” after their names?

I said no such thing.