Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I move the following motions:

That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue his writ for the election of a Member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present Dáil consequent on the resignation from Dáil Éireann of George Lee, a Member for the constituency of Dublin South.

That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue his writ for the election of a Member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present Dáil consequent on the resignation from Dáil Éireann of Martin Cullen, a Member for the constituency of Waterford.

That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue his writ for the election of a Member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present Dáil consequent on the election to the European Parliament of Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher, a Member for the constituency of Donegal South-West.

This is more than a debate about individual constituency vacancies. By failing to hold these three by-elections, the Government, running scared before the people, is denying democracy not just to the people in the constituencies in question but to the entire electorate. It is a double standard that offends the very nature of our Irishness, our Republic and possession of our own democracy.

The Government relied on that very same democracy to become the Executive. Now in power, it denies that same democracy to the people, some of whom voted it into power. It is the ultimate duplicity by a desperate, terror stricken, power-mad Government too scared of its own people to ask their opinion. I have listened to the Taoiseach and others speaking about the Government's majority and democracy. The Government is scared stiff of the electorate and does not want to hold these by-elections because it knows what the result will be. The Taoiseach is very fond of saying he derives his mandate to govern from the Dáil but he forgets to add that he only retains that mandate by keeping seats vacant, the ultimate perversion of democracy. The Government is aware that if it agrees to these by-elections, the people will savage it at the polls because they are waiting with anger, apprehension and vengeance.

Bunreacht na hÉireann states that Ireland is a sovereign, democratic state, where power derives from its people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State. At present, however, we have an artificial majority. The Government had denied people the right to exercise their judgment at this point on the rule of this Government.

The Constitution sets out clear population parameters for representation in the Dáil and these parameters have been clearly breached in Donegal South West and Waterford. The Constitution states that there should be a minimum of one Deputy for every 30,000 people in Ireland. County Waterford, with three seats out of four occupied, has one TD for every 35,000. The same holds for Donegal South West, with two seats out of three occupied, one for every 35,000 people. A vacancy has existed in Donegal for 15 months, more than a quarter of the lifetime of any Dáil.

The Government faces a High Court action to force it to hold the Donegal South West by-election. I am appalled that at a time when 80 families are having their electricity supply cut off every day, the Government sees fit to spend taxpayers' money in the High Court to defend its artificial majority and to give the two fingers to the people of Donegal South West, saying they do not need a by-election and that it can conduct its affairs without them. It is the ultimate kick in the teeth for the electorate of that constituency. The costs could rise to €500,000 if the Government appeals any High Court decision to the Supreme Court.

I commend Deputy Ó Caoláin's party on having the initiative to take this to the courts. There have been indications in the media that the Government might set a date for this by-election to take the sting out of situation. If the Government does that, and fails to name a date for the elections in Dublin South and Waterford, Fine Gael will lodge papers in the High Court to challenge the Government on behalf of the people of these other constituencies.

The business of this House is treated with contempt by this Government, it is denigrated by it. The House is treated as a forum it does not want to attend at all costs. That we must go elsewhere to vindicate the democratic rights of the people is sad. If that is what is needed, however, we will do it.

The Government Whip should bear in mind that thousands of people feel lost, confused, fearful and anxious because of its directionless leadership in recent years. The people in all constituencies are waiting with a vengeance for the Government, be it next week, in three months time or in six months time. If this Government had any courage, it would stand up and say it will go to the country now. We are asking for a date for these three by-elections. The Taoiseach knows that if he sets that date, it will precipitate a general election, which will put the Government out of office for ten years because of the failures that have destroyed the country and crushed the spirit of the people. That is the real reason it is running away from the voters.

Two of our three candidates are in place — Senator Coffey in Waterford and Mr. Barry O'Neill in Donegal South-West, with another waiting in the wings in Dublin South, to contest the seat with Deputies Shatter and Mitchell. I put it to the Government Whip that if he has any courage, gumption or guts, he will stand up and say that we will let the people judge us in Donegal South West, in Dublin South and in Waterford. He knows the answer. The Government is comprised of a Cabinet of cowards, who are afraid to face the people in the ultimate test, the ballot box.

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