Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The decision yesterday by the High Court demanded a response and I am glad the Cabinet took the opportunity to make an appropriate one. There is no pride in denying the people of Donegal South-West a by-election for 18 months. I am on record as having said that period was too long. It exceeds the previous record set in 1994 after a Fianna Fáil-Labour Party Government had refused to hold by-elections in Mayo West and Dublin South Central for 15 months. There is a need for a collective understanding, from the Supreme Court's perspective and in terms of legislation, in defining when by-elections should be held. That is the wider point at issue that needs to be tested in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court case is not an attempt to delay the holding of the other three by-elections.