Yesterday the House witnessed a partial climb-down by the Government in respect of electronic voting. I wish to give the Taoiseach the opportunity to outline how the independent panel will operate. How will the panel be appointed? What powers will it have? Will it be able to deal with the issue raised by Deputy Allen on a number of occasions in respect of a verifiable audit trail? If it recommends this to Government, will the Government implement it before the local and European elections on 11 June? What are the implications for the panel of the necessity to train 15,000 staff in the new procedures? Is the Taoiseach aware that in January 2003, a senior official in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government said that the roll-out of this programme nationwide would be both risky and, perhaps, unmanageable? Will he also comment on how the contract for the advertising and management of the electronic voting programme was awarded?

I said yesterday that one of the most important fundamental rights in a democracy is the right to vote in a secret ballot. Everything we have done over the past five years in preparation for this system, including the pilot system and the authentic examinations by both international and local bodies, has been to ensure that this right is vindicated. The electorate must have confidence in the voting system so the steps we took yesterday were an attempt to take account of what Members of the House and others have said, even though they are not constitutionally or legally necessary. We believe we should ensure that people see the success of the system.

With regard to the provision of a voter verified paper audit trail, there have been calls for a paper system to parallel the electronic voting system. This arises out of some experiences in the United States.

That is total rubbish.

However, the Irish system's reliability for accurately recording votes cast has been tested and verified by an internationally accredited testing institute in Berlin. Other countries have also accepted the reliability and accuracy of the vote, including Holland, Germany and France, without the need for a voter audit trail. Deputy Kenny sought some detail on this issue. The US voting machines in question are generally PC based. The Nedap voting machine——

Nobody mentioned the USA. That is misrepresentation.

——is a proprietary product manufactured specifically for voting. Only the counting system will be PC based. The Nedap machine has been used for many years in other countries without any uncertainty as to its reliability. The machine, including the software for storing votes, has been tested and certified and accurately stores votes cast by the voters.

The ballot paper is visible on the voting machine system. Printers are unreliable in a high volume situation and that is the reason they are not used. The ballot papers printed at the time of voting and used in a manual count might not give the same precise results as the electronic voting system. We either opt for electronic voting or stay with the old system. There is no point having a dual system. That is like keeping the punt and the euro.

The machines were ordered before the decision was made.

One does not keep two systems. It is a nonsensical argument. Deputy Kenny asked about the tender system. That was an open and transparent process using the same rules that apply to all tendering processes. The rules have been followed in full.

The Deputy asked about the independent group. The Government accepts without qualification the necessity for and desirability of complete confidence in our electoral process. Electronic voting is a modern mechanism for the expression of the voter's preference and it is not in the interests of either the Government or the Opposition to have a voting system that is not perceived to be fair and transparent. The Government is satisfied that the electronic voting system that is required will provide the necessary secrecy and accuracy and, in this regard, is prepared to establish a group that will have complete independence.

Who will appoint the members?

They will be appointed by the Government.

That is reassuring.

They will be people of high standing to deal with this issue. That will be provided for in the legislation.