Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

The new Electoral Commission was set up to look after both the Dáil and Seanad elections, constituencies and the electoral register. I call for a debate on how the electoral register is commissioned and maintained and what changes the new Electoral Commission has made or is making. I ask because I have not seen any great changes to the electoral register. Some people are not on it while other people are listed a number of times and, therefore, we need a debate. This House is an ideal one in which to have the debate. We should have a very simplified way to register. It is much easier to register now because people no longer have to go to their local Garda station as part of registering. A debate here would be very helpful and would bring us all up to speed on how the electoral register is compiled.

I wish to be associated with the remarks made by quite a number of Senators here yesterday when they thanked the staff of this House. I thank them for the great work that they have done here over the past four years. I thank them for all their assistance. I do not think we fully appreciate the great work that they do. Sometimes we sit very late in this House and amendments, for example, are put forward yet they are on the clár the following day. Staff here have a huge responsibility because the Bills that are passed here are the ones that the ordinary people of this country must abide by and work by. The staff work very hard and diligently. To conclude, I would like to be associated with the remarks made by the other Senators and thank staff for what they have done for us over the past number of years.