Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The problem here is that the Taoiseach does not have the bottle to give the people of this country the same opportunity.

It is perfectly clear from the Taoiseach's disposition, despite the fact that he has lost the confidence of the people and no longer has a mandate to govern, that he has no immediate intention of giving the people an opportunity - like the people of Britain will have tomorrow - of having their say. There is no excuse for the Taoiseach denying the people of Donegal, south Dublin and Waterford their full representation in Dáil Éireann.

Deputy Ó Caoláin and his Sinn Féin colleagues will later today table a motion to move the writ for the by-election in Donegal. By-elections are also pending in south Dublin and in Waterford. Donegal has been down a TD since 8 June last, some 11 months, south Dublin has been down a TD for 14 of the past 22 months, and Waterford has been a short a TD since the former Minister, Martin Cullen resigned on 8 March. People in these constituencies in Donegal, Dublin and Waterford have the same concerns as other people in other constituencies about job losses, businesses in trouble, shortage of credit, people who find it difficult to pay their mortgages and people who are worried about their future. They have a right to have their full representation in Dáil Éireann. The question I want to ask the Taoiseach is when will he allow the people of Donegal, south Dublin and Waterford to complete their full representation in the Dáil? When will he set a date for the three by-elections?

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