Rabbitte: Report on e-voting leaked to press

The independent Government-appointed body that probed electronic voting may have breached its terms of references by sending its report to the Minister for the Environment four days before the Ceann Comhairle received it, it was claimed tonight.

The Dáil heard that Minister for the Environment Dick Roche acquired the 366-page document last Friday, but it was only delivered to Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O’Hanlon earlier today.

The terms of reference set down for the Commission on Electronic Voting (CEV) clearly state that it must present its findings to the Ceann Comhairle.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte claimed in the Dáil that the report was given to Mr Roche on Friday so he could selectively leak it to weekend newspapers.

Mr Rabbitte told the Dáil: “According to the terms of reference, the report on electronic voting was to be entrusted to the Ceann Comhairle on behalf of the members of the House.

“It emerges that it was given to the Environment Minister, which helps to explain how it leaked into the newspapers over the weekend.

“A report intended for the safekeeping of the Ceann Comhairle until it was to be made available to the House was furnished to the Environment Minister.

“This enabled him to prepare for its catastrophic conclusions being revealed to the public.”

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the report was not received by the Government until this afternoon.

“We must read and discuss the report next week,” he added.

The Commission said it was satisfied with the security and accuracy of the €52m e-voting system, but said the separate software to count the votes was not suitable and should be replaced.

The independent body called for further testing and improved security measures.

Mr Rabbitte called the initiative a shocking waste of taxpayers’ money.

The Taoiseach said that only €500,000 was spent on the election management software, which the CEV wants replaced.

He added: “The Commission states it is unable to recommend the election management software.

"However, it goes on to say that alternative election management software compatible with the existing voting machine and other hardware and software components for the system could be developed at a reasonable relative cost.”

Opposition leader Enda Kenny said the report was another nail in the coffin of the Government’s claim to competence, good judgment and ministerial capability.

“Just over two years ago, the Government tried to foist a dud electronic voting system on the Irish people at a cost of €60m,” he said.

The Mayo TD clamed that people who didn’t trust the technology were branded Luddites by the Taoiseach.

Mr Kenny said that the €52m invested in the system would have provided seven million hours of home help around the country.

The Irish Citizens For Trustworthy E-Voting (ICTE) tonight said its concerns about the quality of the software and the lack of voter-verified paper ballots have been borne out by the CEV’s report.

Spokesperson Margaret McGaley said: “The Commission makes it clear that they will not endorse the introduction of this system without significant modifications and subsequent in-depth testing.”

Ms McGaley said she would be happy to assist that committee by presenting findings from her research as well as her conclusions from reading the CEV’s report.