Madam, - It cost us €60 million to buy them. The annual storage and insurance costs are running at almost €690,000 a year according to recent reports. It is probable that they will be obsolete by the time the next election comes along.
Martin Cullen now has his opportunity. In yesterday's Financial Times the parliament of Albania are seeking to purchase and have installed an electronic voting system and are seeking tenders. The fund provided is €333,000 (we paid 180 times that cost). The deadline for offers is May 16th next. If the Minister hurries he can have it all sorted by the next election and write off the whole €60 million of taxpayers' money and clean the decks. He might even have time on his hands after the election to go over to Tirana and install them himself. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK FLYNN, Herbert Park Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.