Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach told us yesterday, and keeps telling us, that he derives his mandate and authority from having a majority in this House. As Deputy Kenny has pointed out, the majority he now enjoys in this House is less than the number of vacant seats. The High Court has now decided that there is an unreasonable delay in the holding of the Donegal South-West by-election, and it is fair to say that this would apply to the other by-elections as well. A decision must now be made by the Government. The writ has been moved in the House a number of times and the Government has voted it down. It has strung this out for as long as possible. Its latest position is that it will leave it until sometime next spring. However, we now have a ruling from the High Court, and the Government must make a decision. Will it go ahead with this by-election, or will the line Minister, Deputy Gormley, bring a recommendation to the Government that the judgment be appealed? This lands directly on the Minister's plate. It is a decision for him to make. What will he do? He is the man responsible for electoral matters and the running of electoral affairs in this country, and it is his call.

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