Backbencher criticises byelection delays

GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHER Sean Power said voters where byelections were pending should not be deprived of Dáil representation.

He said Seanad byelections were filled much more quickly than those in the Dáil.

“I can understand the thinking of the Government, and what it is doing, and the necessity to keep the numbers right and have a majority,” said Mr Power, FF TD for Kildare South. “There is a limit to how far that can be carried, and we cannot deny people their rightful representation.’’

Mr Power also questioned the benefits of holding a Dublin mayoral election this year.

“I am not clear myself what the powers that person would have and what role the mayor would play,’’ he added.

Mr Power was speaking during the resumed debate on the Fine Gael Private Members’ Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010 ensuring that all byelections were held within six months of a vacancy arising.

Byelections are pending in Dublin South, Waterford and Donegal South-West.

On Tuesday night, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the Bill did not take account of unforeseen events or emergencies such as the swine flu epidemic or the foot and mouth outbreak.

Last night, Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter said there was nothing to prevent the Government accepting the Bill in principle and amending it at committee stage to facilitate the postponement of a byelection in exceptional circumstances or where there was a national emergency.

“However, I don’t believe that anyone would regard Minister Gormley’s speech as credible, and I am not convinced that it is even credible to him,” he added.

Pary colleague Olivia Mitchell said the Government’s defence would be laughable if the issue was not so serious.

“The Government is totally bereft of any real argument,” she added.

Green Pary Minister of State Mary White accused Fine Gael of engaging in “almost short-term political gamesmanship”.

“When Fine Gael was in power, it had done nothing to introduce electoral reform, she added.

“I believe the Fine Gael proposal is flawed because it fails to take account of emergency situations,” she added.

Independent Maureen O’Sullivan said she had first-hand experience of the issue because she had been elected in a byelection in Dublin Central.

“We either believe in our parliamentary or democratic system or we do not,” she added.

The Government defeated the Bill by 72 votes to 68.