Electronic voting in the Republic of Ireland the Government of Ireland established the Independent Commission on Electronic Voting and Counting at Elections to examine the proposed system. It was dissolved in 2006. The Commission issued a series of reports reviewing the proposed system and comparing it to the existing electoral system: "The Commission can recommend the voting and counting equipment as follows: The prime issue was the lack of verifiability by the absence of an audit mechanism or verified paper trail. The former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had defended the flawed system in the Dáil, bemoaning the use of ""stupid old pencils"". The voting machines bought by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA/DFAT) () is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland in the European Union and the wider world. The head of the Department is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who is assisted by two Ministers of State. The position of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is traditionally regarded as one of the most prestigious appointments in the Government of Ireland, below that of Taoiseach and Minister for Finance. The official headquarters and ministerial offices