Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It was the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who made the point the other day that he wanted long days for the by-election. The people of Meath are well able to make up their minds on the quality of the candidates, whether the days be dark or bright.

As far as Fine Gael is concerned, this by-election will be fought strongly but fairly. I will make two points. Given that 11 March is a Friday and given the extreme commuting difficulties faced by people in north Kildare and Meath, the Government should arrange to keep open the polling stations for the maximum time, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., to allow for that. Apathy is the great difficulty in elections these days. It is difficult to make politics exciting in a time of economic prosperity. I hope that across the electorates of Meath and Kildare North, people will register their protest at the concerns flowing into our offices regarding how the Government has failed to deliver. From the Fine Gael perspective, I hope that Shane McEntee in Meath and Darren Scully in Kildare will register their protest votes against the Government on those issues, and in respect of the quality of the candidates.

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