The by-elections in Meath and Kildare North will be held on Friday, March 11th, following a decision by the Cabinet this morning.
The Government Chief Whip, Mr Tom Kitt, confirmed the decision a short time ago. The Government will not stand in the way when the writ is moved for the Meath by-election by Fine Gael in the Dáil, paving the way for the two elections to be held on March 11th.
Mr Kitt said the Government was ready for the campaign and that Fianna Fáil would hold the selection convention for the Kildare North election this Thursday and choose the best candidate for the job.
Mr Kitt's sister Áine is seeking selection for the party in that constituency.
The party has recently replaced its candidate in Co Meath following controversy over a land deal involving the selected candidate, Mr Tommy Reilly, and Mr Frank Dunlop.
The Taoiseach will answer questions in the Dáil this afternoon during which time the by-election issue is expected to be raised again.
The Government had been under pressure from Labour and Fine Gael to allow the by-elections for the seats vacated by Mr John Bruton in Meath and Mr Charlie McCreevy in Kildare North take place between March 8th and 16th.
Mr Pat Rabbitte, the Labour Party leader, warned yesterday he would seek a pact of non-co-operation with Opposition parties if the Government faced down moves for a polling day next month.
He said halting the work of the Government in Leinster House could force the Taoiseach into setting an early date. Mr Rabbitte also said his party would move the writ for the Kildare ballot if the Government failed to do so.
The Tánaiste said yesterday she would prefer to see the elections held after Easter, and preferably on the same day. Ms Harney said the fact that members of the Government would be abroad during the St Patrick's Day celebrations would pose problems for a mid-March ballot. She added that the difference between holding the elections in March or waiting until after Easter was "a matter of weeks".
She denied the accusation by the Opposition that the Government was "running scared" of the electorate following its poor performance in last year's local elections.
The Taoiseach had said holding both polls on the same day following Easter was preferable as they would not then interfere with important upcoming debates on the Finance and Social Welfare Bills in the Dáil.
Fianna Fáil has yet to select a candidate in Kildare North and its campaign in Meath was thrown into disarray by the withdrawal of its original candidate Mr Tommy Reilly who was subsequently replaced by Mr Shane Cassells, a young councillor elected to Meath County Council last year.
In holding out for later by-election dates, the Government almost certainly hoped to take advantage of the extra time for campaigning on the doorsteps in Meath and Kildare and to raise the profile of its candidates. A Government party hasn't had success in a by-election in more than 20 years.
A win in Meath in particular this time round would be seen as a major coup, given that the seat was previously held by the former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Mr John Bruton.
The Meath seat was vacated in November when Mr Bruton became the EU's special envoy to the United States. The North Kildare seat became vacant when former finance minister Mr Charlie McCreevy was named new EU Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services last autumn.
Mr McCreevy's son, Mr Charlie McCreevy junior, was seen as the party's best hope in Kildare North but he has so far declined to stand.