69 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make weekend voting a feature of future elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19791/01]

A move to weekend voting on a national basis would require careful consideration of a range of matters, including objections on religious grounds; people being away from home; the large numbers now employed in the service industry at weekends; the likelihood of competition with sporting events; difficulty in obtaining election staff and increased staff costs.

Overall, and despite a number of countervailing advantages it is not clear that more people would have an opportunity to vote if elections and referendums were held at weekends. Nonetheless, I intend to keep the matter under review.

Will the Minister of State consider holding elections on Saturdays and Sundays as happens on the Continent? There were some objections on religious grounds to voting on Sundays. However, polls held over two days would contribute towards increasing turnouts. Will the Minister of State outline the increased costs involved in polling at weekends as opposed to week days?

On a previous occasion, the Minister of State or his colleague indicated that there were objections from the churches to polling on a Sunday. Which churches objected because I understand there are no objections from the churches to the holding of elections on Sundays?

The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, may have made that comment.

He did.

I did not make it so I do not know what church made that comment, if it was made. I do not have figures regarding the costs of holding elections over two days rather than on one day. If the Deputy is anxious for such an estimate, I am sure it could be provided. However, I do not have such figures to hand.

The recent by-election was held on a Saturday and I am sure the parties will consider how well that worked.

We are delighted with the way it worked.

I am sure the Deputy is delighted with the result and I congratulate him.

I thank the Minister of State.

We look forward to the new Deputy's introduction shortly and I wish him the best of luck. It was a well earned victory.