Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I would have thought it was appropriate for the Minister in charge of electoral matters to ensure that by-elections are held much earlier. He indicated he had an open mind on the matter, but when we moved a Fine Gael Bill to ensure a time limit applied to the holding of Dáil by-elections, he subsequently voted it down - so much for consensus on these matters.

Will he indicate the estimated cost to the Exchequer and to his Department arising from the court proceedings that are now the subject of a judicial review in the High Court?

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