Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am pleased that the Government has agreed to hold the two by-elections on 11 March. The objective of my party was principally to exercise our traditional prerogative in moving the writ for the Meath by-election. Since I made that announcement on Sunday, most of the indications were that the Government would vote down the writ. I am pleased therefore that in conjunction with the Labour Party, the Government has reconsidered and is now ensuring that the electorates in Meath and Kildare North will have their Oireachtas representation brought back to 2002 levels within a month. In fact, as the boundary commission has recommended that both constituencies will be entitled to an extra seat at the next general election, it is important that the electorates be given the opportunity to fill these seats at an early date.

I listened to the Minister, Deputy Cowen, who like myself is the product of a by-election. In his case, I remember canvassing in Ferbane, where I did not get too many votes, and where the by-election in question was, I think, on the same day as the European elections.

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