Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister of State act on the recommendation of the all-party Joint Committee on the Constitution to introduce a constitutional amendment or legislation - the former being more appropriate because legislation can be changed without reference to the people - to provide for a by-election to be held within 90 days of the occurrence of a vacancy? Will the Government act on the recommendation that had all-party imprimatur? On the back of today's judgment, it is not only a matter of acceding to the moving of the writ tomorrow morning and holding the four by-elections but to address the faultline that gives rise to the abuse that the Government has employed since June 2009.

A number of questions have been put to the Minister of State regarding the failure of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to respond to these private notice questions even though they are addressed to him. Was the Minister asked to respond to questions this afternoon? Was he invited to take questions this afternoon or did he decline to take questions-----

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