Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste would not be on her feet this morning moving the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election if it were not for the High Court's judgment yesterday. If the Government had accepted a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill several months ago, it would not be in this position today. One reason the Government did not want the four by-election writs moved was that it wanted a clear run into what will be a very important budget in December. Now, the Government will not be focused on the important budgetary matters which must be attended to.

There has been a representational deficit in Dublin South, Waterford and Donegal North-East, with Donegal South-West having the longest. Fine Gael and other parties moved the writ for the by-election in Donegal South-West several times but each time it was voted down by the Government parties. Yesterday, the Green Party claimed it was its policy to hold the Donegal South-West by-election. Taxpayers' money could have been saved, particularly in these constrained budgetary times, if the Government did not go the courts to contest the calling of this by-election.

A Fine Gael Private Members' Bill could have been adopted by the Government to ensure when a vacancy occurs in a constituency, a by-election will be held within six months. Fine Gael has selected its candidate for the by-election, Mr. Barry O'Neill. We look forward to the hustings and seeing if the Donegal South-West electorate believes the Government's claims about what it has done for the constituency over the past several years.

I am sure Deputies Shatter, Mitchell, McGinley, Deasy and McHugh will outline the representational deficit their constituencies have had over the past several months.

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