Government and Opposition parties today begin intensive 23-day by-election campaigns in Meath and Kildare North that they hope will boost party morale as they begin preparations for the next general election, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent.
The surprise Government decision to agree to such a short campaign came at yesterday morning's Cabinet meeting where ministers conceded to Opposition threats to disrupt Dáil business for weeks unless they got their way.
The decision came after a series of informal discussions between Fianna Fáil ministers and a meeting between the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, which considered the impact the Opposition threat would have on Government business.
They also discussed the propaganda advantage the Opposition would gain from what one Government source yesterday called "grandstanding for weeks" claiming that the Government was afraid of the voters.
Mr Ahern then proposed to the Cabinet that the Government abandon its previous insistence that the by-elections take place after Easter - in April or later.
Faced with the Opposition threat of a major disruption of business in the Dáil, which would in turn have interrupted the political diaries of the Taoiseach and his ministers, the Cabinet decided to yield to Opposition demands for an early poll.
The Government then sought to be seen to take the initiative on the matter, with the Government chief whip, Mr Tom Kitt, first proposing to the Dáil yesterday afternoon that the Kildare North by-election, to replace Mr Charlie McCreevy, take place on March 11th.
The Fine Gael chief whip, Mr Paul Kehoe, then moved the writ for the Meath by-election to replace Mr John Bruton, who was recently appointed EU representative in Washington.
The Government and Opposition parties will also face challenges from independents. A group of Independent deputies met yesterday to consider whether to support a Leixlip councillor, Ms Catherine Murphy, in Kildare North.
According to the Independent TD Mr Finian McGrath, at least three Independents - himself, Mr Tony Gregory and Mr Séamus Healy - will support her, and they hope several more will do so.
The by-elections take place in constituencies adjacent to the capital which have experienced major development over the past decade as Dublin expanded.
Issues such as improving road and rail links - particularly the controversial proposed M3 motorway through Co Meath - will feature strongly.
Fianna Fáil's parliamentary party moved quickly last night to approve a motion calling for work on the M3 as planned to begin immediately.
The by-elections provide a major challenge for the Government parties, with no party in government having won a by-election since Fianna Fáil's Mr Noel Treacy in Galway East in 1982.
Fianna Fáil has had a particularly difficult lead-in to the by-elections.
Its originally selected Meath candidate, Mr Tommy Reilly, withdrew after questions were raised over his purchase of land in Co Meath in association with Mr Frank Dunlop.
Meanwhile in Kildare North, the party will not have a candidate until after a selection convention in Maynooth tomorrow night.
The polls also provide a major test for Fine Gael and Labour, the two parties likely to form the core of an alternative government offered to voters at the next general election.
Good rates of transfer between the parties will encourage those seeking a pre-election pact, while they will also be hoping for a good Labour performance to calm those in the party who fear a pact would benefit Fine Gael more than Labour.
Candidates in Kildare North will include the Fianna Fáil candidate to be selected tomorrow night; Cllr Darren Scully (Fine Gael); Cllr Paddy MacNamara (Labour); Senator Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats); Cllr Catherine Murphy (Independent); Cllr J.J. Power (Green Party).
Meath candidates include Cllr Shane Cassells (Fianna Fáil); Mr Shane McEntee (Fine Gael); Cllr Dominic Hannigan (Labour); Cllr Joe Reilly (Sinn Féin); Ms Sirena Campbell (Progressive Democrats); and Mr Fergal O'Byrne (Green Party).