The Labour Party will contest the Government's decision to hold the presidential election on Thursday, October 30th. The party believes that this would disenfranchise many thousands of students, as well as other people who work away from their family homes.
The leader of the party, Mr Dick Spring, described the decision as a shameful step backwards from the recent precedent of holding elections on Fridays. The Government had also restricted the polling hours to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The previous government had set the hours of polling in the last general election at 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Progressive Democrats general council will decide tomorrow whether to support the Fianna Fail candidate, Prof Mary McAleese, following her surprise nomination.
The merits of each of the four candidates were discussed by the PD parliamentary party yesterday without reaching a firm position on electoral tactics.
The Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said afterwards that personally she would be supporting Prof McAleese. "I think she is the best candidate, irrespective of the fact that she is the Fianna Fail nominee."
It is understood that her view was shared by other members. Two options will be put to the 180-member general council tomorrow: to support one of the four candidates or to allow members a free choice.
Representatives of Labour, Democratic Left and the Green Party will meet today to consider plans for Ms Adi Roche's campaign.
Regarding polling day, Mr Spring said Labour would be pressing to reverse the Government's decision. The Presidential Elections Act did not allow the Government to change the order appointing polling day, so it would be necessary to introduce a Bill to do so.
"If they won't, we will not hesitate to bring forward the necessary legislation ourselves."
He pointed out that the previous government established a firm precedent by ordering voting in the divorce referendum on Friday, November 24th, 1995, and the general election on Friday, June 6th, 1997.
"We did this to ensure that as many people as possible were able to vote. Fianna Fail and the PDs have cynically ignored these precedents and have reverted to type."