Byelections to be held on same day as Euro poll

THE DUBLIN South and Dublin Central byelections caused by the deaths of minister Séamus Brennan and Independent TD Tony Gregory will be held on June 5th, the same day as the European and local elections.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley announced the election dates in the Dáil after Fine Gael moved the writ calling for the byelection to be held, nine months after the death of Mr Brennan and four months since Mr Gregory died.

However once Mr Gormley confirmed the byelections would take place in June, the writ was withdrawn. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that having forced the Government reluctantly into making a decision, it was not therefore necessary to have a vote on the motion before the House.

“The Government has confirmed the intent of the writ that the byelections be held on June 5th. I welcome that fact and I have no doubt but that you’ll get your answer.”

Mr Gormley criticised the Fine Gael decision to move the writ last night because under the rules it would have meant holding the byelection at least a week ahead of the local and European elections. To hold the elections on the same day as those elections would require moving the writ between May 6th and 14th, he said. Mr Kenny said earlier the date could be amended with the consent of the House to June 5th.

The Minister also warned the House that candidates in the local and European elections “may only erect posters from 30 days before the polling date of June 5th” and the same would apply to byelection candidates. Posters for any election held on June 5th could not be erected any earlier than May 6th and all posters had to be removed within seven days of the poll.

Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South) said that “if this motion does nothing other than force the Government into recognising the essential constitutional obligation to move the writs to enable these byelections to be held it will at least have achieved something”.

Olivia Mitchell (FG, Dublin South) said the two elections would give the opportunity for a general election-type debate.

Ruairí Quinn, Labour’s director of elections for Dublin south said nine months had elapsed since the death of Séamus Brennan and four months since Tony Gregory had died. He said the country needed a new government with a new mandate.

A “new government would face the same set of problems but good God, we would deal with them far differently”, and would have a mandate to do that.

Joe Costello (Labour, Dublin Central) said that since Tony Gregory was an Independent there is no political party in the Dáil that can represent his supporters’ wishes in regard to the carrying out of the election. “His supporters have chosen a candidate so they consider a reasonable time has elapsed.” Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South-Central) called on the Government to “prepare legislation or a constitutional amendment which would in future trigger byelections within three months of the passing of a member of the House so that we don’t end up in this situation time and time again”.

Finian McGrath (Ind, Dublin North Central) said he could “confirm that the family and supporters of the late deputy Tony Gregory will be very, very satisfied with that decision”.