The system of electronic voting will be "far more accurate" than the paper ballot, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr Cullen, has claimed.
Speaking at the official launch of the new system, the Minister defended its workings against claims that electronic voting removes the paper record from the voting process.
"After 400,000 people used this system not one politician or political party questioned the validity of what happened. These questions have arisen for political reasons, rather than being based on the facts," he said.
The new system will be used nationwide for the first time in the European Elections on June 11th next. A similar electronic ballot was used in a limited form in the 2002 Nice Treaty poll and that year's General Election.
In the last local elections 21,000 votes were declared spoiled and 40 seats were decided by fewer than 50 votes - a situation which prompted a number of recounts. The new system aims to eliminate the doubt which hangs over close counts.
Opposition parties have criticised the introduction of the system, with Fine Gael and Labour questioning whether such a method was tamper-proof. The Progressive Democrats also claim that all-party support should have been sought before its introduction.
The Minister today vigorously defended the new procedure, saying that the "extreme views" voiced were politically motivated.
"The actual results will be far more accurate than they've ever been in the past. The system is more secure than it's ever been. Why now, at the death, is the question being posed?"
"This is not some zealot approach to the system on my behalf. I was charged with this responsibility, and it was voted on by the Oireachtas. Since then it has become politicised," he said.
The Minister also re-iterated that the system would be open to scrutiny, but added that the issue of paper receipts would not be option.
"If an independent review is requested by the Oireachtas, and the system needs to be looked at, I would welcome that."
"We now have an electronic system and that's the end of the matter. The issue of a receipt is not on - we're either confident in one system or we're not."
Opposition parties reacted strongly to the launch of the new system, with Fine Gael electoral candidate Ms Edie Wynne calling for constitutional referendum into the new system. Sinn Fein called for the system's design to be made publicly available for inspection by experts.
Aside from changing the physical manner in which voters cast their ballot, electronic voting will ensure that national election results will be known within hours of polls closing.
The last ballot should be counted by about 3am the following morning, the Minister said.
In the case of the European elections, however, the results of the ballot will not be made known until EU-wide results are made known on Sunday, June 13th.
The new electoral procedure will see voters push a succession of buttons to make their choices. After submitting their vote, the details of the ballot will be stored in machine, which itself will be physically transported from the polling office to the count centre at the close of the ballot.
Details of the first count will be then be released simultaneously nationwide.
An awareness campaign highlighting the launch of the system was also launched today, with the use TV, radio and poster advertising over the coming weeks. Pamphlets detailing the new system will be sent to every household in the country.
The hardware involved in the new system, has been developed by a Dutch firm, NEDAP/Powervote, and has been used to date in Germany and Holland, in addition to its 2002 use in elections here.
The 7,000 machines required have cost the State €36m.
Ireland will be the first proportional representation electoral system in which the new system is used. Provisions for the change from paper to electronic ballot are provided for under section 48 of the Electoral Amendment Act, 2001.