Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Galway West TD has failed in his bid to grant same day voting rights to Galway’s island residents.
An Oireachtas meeting last night discussed an amendment proposed by Deputy Eamon O’ Cuiv to change the current voting arrangement, which sees island residents cast their votes a day earlier than everyone else.
However, that proposed change was shot down at the sitting of the Select Committe on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, which heard that the returning officer for the constituency was against the move.
Minister for Rural Affairs Anne Phelan said that boat and air services to Galway’s islands were too weather dependent to allow for reliable same day voting.
Dublin West Deputy Robert Dowds said that while he wouldn’t vote against the wishes of the Government, he believed Deputy O’ Cuiv had raised valid points that should be examined in greater detail.
Laois-Offaly Deputy Brian Stanley echoed earlier concerns raised by Deputy O’ Cuiv when he said forcing islanders to vote a day earlier meant sacrificing a day’s work or study in order to travel home.
The proposed amendment was defeated by four votes to two.
However, while Minister Phelan said she could not accept the amendment, she pledged to revisit the issue in the upcoming general election.
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