Cabinet set to accede to by-election pressure
With the Cabinet due to decide this morning on whether to oppose Fine Gael and Labour's decision to call early by-elections, sources indicated last night that the Government may be prepared to agree to an election date in early March.
Adding to the pressure already exerted on the Government by Fine Gael's decision to move the Meath writ today, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday broke with tradition and announced Labour would simultaneously move the North Kildare writ if the Government didn't do so.
In a further overtly aggressive move against the Government, Mr Rabbitte also threatened to withdraw all Dáil co-operation if Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats use their Dáil majority to vote down both writs today.
The move, designed to further wrong-foot Fianna Fáil, is unusual since traditionally Fianna Fáil, as the party with a candidate standing down, would reserve the right to call the election.
The stand-off will undoubtedly lead to sharp exchanges in the Dáil today and may well result in further heated rows over the coming weeks if the Opposition forces every procedure and Dáil motion to a vote.
Speaking as he launched the campaigns of Labour's by-election candidates Dominic Hannigan (Meath) and Paddy MacNamara (North Kildare) Mr Rabbitte also accused the Government of "running scared."
"If they are going to oppose the writ they will have to come up with a more cogent and rational argument than they have come up with so far because to say that it will disrupt the legislative programme of the Dáil is absolute nonsense.
"They have already decided to adjourn the Dáil for the best part of five weeks around Easter, so ministers can travel the globe in advance of St Patrick's Day and then enjoy Cheltenham without having to worry about issues of accountability," he said.
Although both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil chief whip Tom Kitt have already indicated a preference for a post-Easter poll, Communications Minister and Meath director of elections Noel Dempsey said the party was ready to contest the election in Meath.
"My view is we are ready whenever. . . We can go before or after Easter it doesn't really worry us," he said.
Minister Dempsey said it would be the preference of the Taoiseach to hold the elections after Easter, but declined to comment, in advance of today's Cabinet meeting, on what Fianna Fáil would ultimately decide.
Despite the fact that Fianna Fáil faces a particular difficulty in North Kildare, where the party is struggling to select its candidate, sources indicated last night that the Government may be left with no choice but to concede to a March poll.
Tánaiste Mary Harney said the matter would be discussed today but indicated that, from a cost perspective, both by-elections should be held on the same date.
