Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In the same way as a solicitor for Senator Coffey and Mr. Van Turnhout wrote to the defendant, the defendant's solicitor wrote back. This is a normal course of action. The Government was entitled to await the outcome of a Supreme Court appeal before moving the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election. However, out of deference to the High Court, it decided to move the writ forthwith. This deference does not mean the Government accepts the points of constitutional principle laid down by the High Court. Rather, it considers that the High Court's judgment gives rise to highly important issues of constitutional principle which have not arisen before and which should be settled conclusively by the Supreme Court in the interests of certainty for future elections. I indicated to the Dáil last week the issues in question. That is the reason.

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