Cowen admits €50m spent on electronic voting is gone

Posted on October 06, 2010 at 05:30 PM

Leaders' Questions this morning saw the Taoiseach admit under pressure from the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD that the €50m spent on electronic voting is gone. Gilmore called the spending 'part of a pattern of waste which was taking shape at that time'.

He said: "I want to ask the Taoiseach two questions in regard to this matter. First, will he confirm to the House that the €50m is gone, that we will not see it again and, as the spokesperson from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated yesterday, the money will not be recoved?

"Second will he finally acknowledge this was an appalling waste of money, a fact which nobody in Government has ever acknowledged?

"No Minister was ever held to account for this. Nobody was ever sacked or chastised. The money was wasted. It is about time that the Taoiseach or somebody in the Government had the good grace to stand up, say that they made a mistake, the money is gone, apologise and accept responsibility for it."

You can read the entire exchange on the Oireachtas website and view Eamon's full contribution on the accompanying video.

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