The main political parties have been asked to consider the introduction of electronic voting in Dail divisions which would end the current arrangement whereby TDs must queue to cast their votes.
The new system was discussed at a meeting of the party whips last week. The Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, last night confirmed he favoured electronic voting. However, he said, any change would require cross-party support.
Mr Brennan said he was keen to "try to get agreement to overhaul the workings of the Oireachtas". He also favours having Dail votes taken at specified times to make the Dail "more businesslike".
The Labour Party has expressed its support. The party's whip, Mr Emmet Stagg, said electronic voting would end the "waste of resources and deputies' time arising from the current antiquated voting system".
"The main argument put forward against electronic voting is `tradition', but the same argument was put forward against televising the Dail. Yet the decision to allow the cameras in is now generally acknowledged as having had a very positive impact." Mr Brennan said he expected the parties' reply by the end of this month. Should they support the change, he said he would move immediately to get systems in place for electronic voting.