10.—(1) The poll at a European election shall—

(a) be taken on such day as shall be appointed by the Minister by order (which order shall be made not less than F8[sixty days] before the day thereby appointed), and

(b) shall continue for such period, not being less than twelve hours, between the hours of F9[7 a.m.] and 10.30 p.m. as may be appointed by the said order, subject to the restriction that the same day and the same period shall be so appointed for all constituencies,

and the day so appointed is in this Act referred to as “the polling day”.

F10[(1A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b), where the Minister is of the opinion that due to local circumstances concerning an island, and taking account of advice from the returning officer for the constituency in which the island is situated, it would be unnecessary or impracticable for the poll to continue on the island for the period appointed by the Minister by order under subsection (1)(b), the Minister may by order, not later than the seventh day before polling day, shorten the period of the poll on the island.

(1B) A poll the subject of an order under subsection (1A) shall continue on the island for not less than 4 hours.

(1C) In subsection (1A), “local circumstances” includes:

(a) the number of European electors on the island;

(b) the distance between a polling station on the island and the place appointed for the verification of ballot paper accounts under rule 73(2) of the Second Schedule;

(c) advance forecasts of stress of weather;

(d) foreseen transport difficulties.]

(2) The counting of the votes at a European election shall begin on the day and at the time appointed by the Minister by order.

(3) An order under this section shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.