Training election personnel in Dublin
Mitchell asked why the Minister refused to meet a Dublin Corporation deputation about training presiding officers and poll clerks; Burke said he had not refused and noted that training in Dublin was the City Sheriff’s responsibility.
asked the Minister for the Environment why he refused to meet a deputation from Dublin Corporation regarding the training of presiding officers and poll clerks.
Comment on this
The Deputy would appear to be under a misapprehension. I did not refuse to meet a deputation from the corporation on this matter.
I understand that during the period of office of the previous Government there was correspondence between the corporation and the Department of the Environment in the course of which the corporation were reminded that, so far as Dublin city is concerned, the appointment and training of presiding officers and poll clerks was a matter for the City Sheriff. It was indicated that it was considered that the proposed meeting between the Minister and members of the corporation would not serve a useful purpose because adequate instructions were contained in the booklet of instructions for presiding officers which is prepared by the Department and issued to all presiding officers. The booklet is regularly up-dated and is generally supplemented by additional instructions issued by returning officers.
For my own part I am prepared to welcome any practical suggestions for improvement of procedures at elections.