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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voting Facilities.

Disabled Voter Denied Polling Station Access

Summary

Mitchell asks what will be done about a disabled person denied access to a polling station despite advance arrangements. Burke shares his concern and says the working party will examine access for disabled voters.

Gay Mitchell Mr. G. Mitchell Fine Gael

I am absolutely flabbergasted that the Minister——

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John F. O'Connell An Ceann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

A question, Deputy. You can ask if he is aware that you are flabbergasted.

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Gay Mitchell Mr. G. Mitchell Fine Gael

I am sure that he is aware. With regard to Questions Nos. 18 and 19, will the Minister confirm that consideration will be given to the points raised? Question No. 27 relates to a particular individual and asks the Minister to state whether he is aware that the person was denied access and the steps he will take to correct the situation. Will the Minister say specifically what he intends to do about this since the person was denied access to the polling booth despite the fact that on the occasion of two elections the authorities were informed in advance that he would be coming to cast his vote? On both occasions he was denied that vote. I would ask the Minister to deal separately with this question because it does not relate to any commission or section of his Department but to an individual who has been denied his right to vote.

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Ray Burke Mr. Raphael Burke Fianna Fáil

I share the Deputy's concern about this case and about other cases where I know that people did not go to the polls because——

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Some of them went twice.

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Ray Burke Mr. Raphael Burke Fianna Fáil

——they were in wheelchairs and so on. That is why I included in the terms of reference of the working party the question of access to polling stations for disabled persons. This was highlighted by the unfortunate case mentioned by Deputy Mitchell.

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