John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

As previous speakers said, this legislation deals with a small number of areas. Most of the Bill is uncontroversial. I agree with Deputy Doherty and others who praised the proposal to ensure by-elections will be held within six months. However, I would go further. Deputy Mattie McGrath was correct when he spoke about the possibility of not having by-elections. We do not use by-elections to fill vacancies at local authority and EU level. In those chambers the party or Independent grouping which held the seat previously is allowed to co-opt someone to fill the vacancy.

In the long term that is something at which the Minister should look.

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