Proposals to speed up votes in the Assembly at Stormont are being examined further this week.

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has said he will not be scrapping the controversial electronic voting machines that have already cost Irish taxpayers more than €50m.

The Government’s controversial €50m electronic voting system could be introduced in time for the planned referendum on the EU Constitution.

The Government came under fire today over its hefty investment in an electronic voting system which will now not be used in the next elections.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is expected to face tough questions from the opposition today over the Government’s decision to scrap its electronic voting plans.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party have both called for Environment Minister Martin Cullen to resign his position due to the fiasco surrounding the introduction of electronic voting.

The Government has been forced to make an embarrassing u-turn on its electronic voting plans after an independent commission said it could not recommend the introduction of such a system.

The Electronic Voting Commission is due to publish an independent report today into the accuracy and secrecy of the electronic voting machines due to be used in the upcoming local and European elections.

The Commission on Electronic Voting has received more than 150 submissions on the Government's planned system.

Environment Minister, Martin Cullen, has criticised opposition parties for questioning the integrity of the body established by the Government yesterday to examine the electronic voting system.

Computer experts have warned that the new electronic voting system poses a danger to Irish democracy.

A group opposed the Government’s electronic voting plans has outlined its concerns at a press conference in Dublin.

Fianna Fáil has slammed Fine Gael’s apparent opposition to electronic voting after uncovering evidence of the party’s past support for the contentious system.

The Government has defeated an opposition motion calling for electronic voting to be deferred until an independent electoral commission has been established to oversee it.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has defended his Government’s plans to introduce electronic voting nationwide this year despite growing opposition to the system.

The Government has made a number of changes to its plans to introduce electronic voting nationwide at the local and European elections in June.

Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party are due to introduce a private members’ motion in the Dáil tonight calling on the Government to defer the introduction of electronic voting.