Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil Ministers clashed on giving a commitment that electronic voting machines will be used in future referendums and local elections to rebuild public confidence in the system. Liam Reid, Political Reporter, reports.
Fianna Fáil Ministers wanted to give an explicit public commitment that the machines would be used in the future, but this was opposed by Progressive Democrats Ministers.
They made clear their opposition to the Government giving any such commitment at this stage ahead of detailed discussions, and it is understood there were heated exchanges between the coalition partners on the issue in recent days.
Ministers were given an outline of the report's conclusions before its publication on Tuesday afternoon, and it was discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday morning.
The report said the machines were usable, subject to modifications and rigorous testing, but that the election count software was sub-standard and should be replaced.
Some Fianna Fáil Cabinet members had wanted to go further than the final statement issued on behalf of the Government on Tuesday following the report. They were anxious that Government would also give a commitment that once the commission's recommendations were implemented, the machines would be introduced gradually to build confidence.
The Government has already said the system would not be used at next year's general election, but some Fianna Fáil Ministers wanted the Government to state that the machines would be considered for use, first at referendums and then possibly at local and European elections.
It is understood Minister for Justice Michael McDowell told Cabinet colleagues that although the PDs did not oppose additional funding to address problems in the system, they were not in a position at this stage to support any definitive commitment that the machines would be used at any election.
The statement issued on Tuesday by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said he would bring forward proposals to Government next week to set up a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the report in order to implement its recommendations.
Asked yesterday about divisions between the Government parties, a spokesman for Mr Roche said the Minister personally had no discussions with Government colleagues on the timing of the use of the machines. He added that the Minister would not comment on any Cabinet meeting, on the basis of Cabinet confidentiality.
Yesterday in Dublin Mr McDowell told reporters from what he had heard of the report, there were "a lot of serious issues to be addressed". He added: "I don't want now to engage in any knee jerkery in relation to it, I just want to look at it." He said that concerns at the PD party conference centred around public confidence in the system, which could be addressed.
"Nobody wants a system that is in any way tainted with an absence of confidence or security. On the other hand, if we can get a system that's at least as good as the paper system, then I think the public at large would have no strong objection to it."