Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Rabbitte seems more concerned that I might call an autumn general election and if that is his concern, I will not. The legislation is clear on this issue. I am always amused when somebody in the House comes up with a new issue that has been around for years and says it is terrible. Deputy Rabbitte knows how the system operates. The Electoral Acts, over the years, have given the power to Ministers which has been delegated to local authorities. That is the way it has always been. I could ask Deputy Rabbitte, since his party controls many councils, what they have been doing in recent years in this regard.

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