The problems identified in the mothballed electronic voting system in a expert report published today are not expensive to rectify, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.
But Opposition leaders ridiculed Mr Ahern saying the report by the Commission on Electronic Voting (CEV) showed procedures and software proposed for the system could have led to inaccurate counts and was open to fraud.
Mr Ahern said the software cost in the region of €500,000 and quoted the report saying that minor modifications at a small relative cost could make the system more reliable than the existing paper system.
"I'm particularly pleased with the Commission's overall validation of the €46 million investment in the voting machines and associated software," Mr Ahern said.
"The machines have been validated beyond any question by an international commission," he added.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny derided the Government for both the system's weaknesses and the manner in which the money was spent.
He said the report "clarifies beyond yea or nay: it is a dud system."
"It has not been developed in accordance with any recognisable standard. It is therefore open to major counting errors. It is not good enough for what can be called a mission-critical system [it] could subvert the democratic decision of the people," Mr Kenny said.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte criticised the then minister for the environment and local government Martin Cullen whom he accused of trying to avoid scrutiny at the time the money was invested in the system.
He also said the report showed serious software deficiencies. He quoted the report saying that votes could be attributed to the wrong candidate and that it was possible to manipulate vote data.
"It's a bit like this government. The hardnecks work well, but there's no software," Mr Rabbitte said.
Mr Rabbitte also expressed concern that the report was sent to the Minster for the Environment and Local Government Dick Roche on Friday.
Under the terms of reference for the CEV, it was due to be furnished first to Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon.
Mr Ahern said it was given to the Department as a courtesy and Mr O'Hanlon said Mr Rabbitte should take the matter up with the Commission.