‘Oireachtas roadblock’ plan over Thursday election

POLITICIANS are set to return to the Dáil tomorrow following its Easter recess, with speculation rife that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will call the election before the week is out.

Given Mr Ahern’s stated belief that Friday elections don’t work, most political observers believe he will opt to hold polling day on a Thursday, which leaves three likely dates — May 17, 24, or 31.

Fine Gael will this week challenge Fianna Fáil in the Dáil and Seanad to explain precisely why the party doesn’t want a Friday vote.

Fine Gael will introduce a bill before the Dáil which, if passed, would mean all elections must be held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The party will also introduce a motion in the Seanad calling for the next election to be held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

While the Government has the numbers to defeat both the bill and motion, it will have to explain why it is voting against them.

Fine Gael local government spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said the party was embarking on the dual action or “Oireachtas roadblock” to force Fianna Fáil into explaining why it is “afraid” of Friday elections.

“Recently the Taoiseach has said that he favours Thursday voting but he never explained why he fears Friday voting so much when it is clear it benefits voters,” Mr O’Dowd said.

He pointed to the difference in turnout for the European and local elections in 1999 and 2004.

In 1999, those elections were held on a Thursday and saw a turnout of 50.21%. In 2004, they were held on a Friday and turnout improved dramatically to 58.58%.

“Thursday voting will deny thousands of students and young professionals, who must travel home to their constituencies to vote, the opportunity to do so and Fine Gael is committed to ensuring this does not happen,” said Mr O’Dowd.

“This Oireachtas roadblock will force all parties, especially those on the Government benches, to put up or shut up and either support our bill or explain why they want to effectively disenfranchise thousands.”

Earlier this month, in an interview with this paper, the Taoiseach explained his position: “There are tens of thousands of people every Friday, working a four-and-a-half-day week, who are gone on Friday at lunch-time, and do you think they are going to stop for an election? The fact is in 2002 they didn’t, they were gone. That’s even more so five years on.”