Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will do so at that point. As the motion is to be taken without debate, I had better speak on it now. I take this opportunity to point out that the idea behind this proposal to is to get the by-election process in place. The issue of who the candidate will be is not a matter for me or for the Seanad. It is a matter for others, the political parties and the Independents, to decide who they may or may not put forward. I want to be clear about that. I am not endorsing any candidate, whether from a party or an independent. Senator McDowell and I proposed the motion, the purpose of which is to move forward the process. It is ultimately a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to sign the order. I acknowledge it is the prerogative of the Minister alone to consider this matter and he has up to 180 days to discuss it. We are not, as some people have suggested, moving a writ. All we are asking is that the House pass a motion calling on the Clerk of the Seanad to inform the Minister of a vacancy on the agricultural panel created as a result of the successful election to the European Parliament of the Green Party Senator, Grace O'Sullivan.It is right and proper that we proceed to have this by-election as quickly as possible within the constraints of the regulations and the Minister's prerogative. The issue of candidates is exclusively and wholly a matter for the political parties. If they wish to run a candidate, that is their decision. How to deal with that within their own parties is another challenge for them, rather than for us.