John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

As recovery begins to take hold, the Government works to frame a budget and we continue to fix our banking system, the Government is of the view that to divert attention and energy to the holding of three by-elections could be detrimental to the health of our economy.

As practising politicians we all know the enormous and all-consuming effort that electioneering demands. We believe that to take our eye off the ball in terms of economic recovery to canvass and contest the elections would not be welcomed by the people. Holding the by-elections may only serve to jeopardise our economic recovery.

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