Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Green Party have agreed a joint motion opposing the Government's plans to introduce electronic voting throughout the State in this summer's elections.
The motion calls on the Government to immediately defer plans for the use of electronic voting in the European and local elections. It also calls for the suspension of any further expenditure until an independent Electoral Commission has been established and has addressed the "legitimate concerns of political parties and the public on this issue".
It will be debated during Fine Gael's private members' time on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said there was "serious concern" at the failure of the Government to include the provision of a "voter-verified paper audit trail" as part of the electronic voting process in order to confirm the accuracy of the counting system.
Mr Pat Rabbitte, the Labour Party leader, said there was "considerable legal uncertainty" regarding the legislative basis for the implementation of the system.
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said the Government had not adequately addressed the technical concerns of experts raised in December 2003 at the Committee on the Environment and Local Government.
Electronic voting has already been used on a pilot basis in three constituencies in the May 2002 general election and was extended to seven constituencies for the Nice Referendum in October 2002.
The Minister for the Environment has said specific claims by the Labour Party on electronic voting are "irresponsible and unfounded".
He insists the system to be introduced throughout the State is "the most secure electronic system that exists in the world" and that it has been tested at all stages by independent experts.
The electronic system was the subject of controversy following the May 2002 general election when the Fine Gael TD and former justice minister Ms Nora Owen was upset to find out on live television that she had lost her Dail seat. The electronic system had not provided for individual analysis of transfers at each count and the overall result was simply announced outright.