DÁIL REPORT: The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, used a four-letter word during heated exchanges in the Dáil over the electronic voting controversy, writes Michael O'Regan
Mr Smith, referring to the opposition parties, remarked: "No, let them f**k it, we'll say no more, say no more." He made the remark after the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, had asked opposition deputies to allow the Minister to speak without interruption.
Mr Smith said everybody in the House knew, though they choose to pretend otherwise, that the electronic voting machines were not purchased for a day, a week or a month. "They have a long lifespan." Mr Paul Connaughton (FG) said: "They were purchased for fun."
Mr Smith was taking the Order of Business, in the absence of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and flanked by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen.
Earlier, the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, challenged the Minister to "name a single private company in this country, with the possible exception of AIB, that would continue to employ a manager who frittered away €52 million." He asked if the Minister believed that the shareholders of a company would continue with the same board of directors that frittered away such money.
Mr Smith said that Mr Cullen and the Taoiseach had firmly indicated that the investment in the machines was a long-term investment covering a 20-year lifespan. "I hope that, in time, when the commission recommendations have been dealt with, the people will be provided with the opportunity to use a modern system in terms of how they cast their votes. The new system will bring us into line with our EU partners."
Mr Rabbitte claimed that advertisements relating to electronic voting were still running on South-East Radio. "Deputy Rabbitte well knows that part of the advertising campaign is to encourage people to come out to vote," replied Mr Smith. "The advertising is done by McConnell's Advertising, not Fianna Fáil."
Asked by Mr Rabbitte if the 300 machines ordered on January 14th were included in the €52 million in expenditure, Mr Smith replied: "Yes, as far as I am aware." Mr Rabbitte said it was incredible that Mr Cullen was still "bouncing around and giving cheek and wasting such an amount of taxpayers' money.
"The brass neck on the Government side of the House is almost beyond belief. Deputy Bernard Allen is right. The Government should put the machines into Punchestown and put Deputy Cullen minding them."
Mr Cullen replied: "That is what Fine Gael and the Labour party would do. It is not what we will do. We will look after the taxpayers."
The Labour leader claimed that Mr Smith had sat down without answering all his questions, claiming that it was the ultimate disrespect for the House. Mr Smith replied: "How dare Deputy Rabbitte say that."
Mr Rabbitte said the Minister would not even reply to his questions. "He is a great man now sitting down. He is a windbag. He should stand up and answer." Mr Ahern said that "if the laughing hyenas surrounding Deputy Rabbitte had been quiet, he might have got an answer."