By-election move: Cowen to resist FG pressure

FRESH opposition attempts to force a by-election for one of three vacant Dáil seats will be defeated, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has predicted.

The vacancies in Donegal South-West, Dublin South and Waterford mean the three constituencies do not have their full representation of TDs in the Dáil.

Despite that, Mr Cowen appeared dismissive of the democratic deficit involved when telling RTÉ Radio: “Don’t worry about it.”

And yesterday Mr Cowen again dismissed opposition demands to hold the by-elections immediately.

“The opposition don’t have a whole lot else to be doing besides walking around, I presume.”

The Government is anxious to hold off the by-elections for as long as possible because, based on current support levels, it would lose all three, reducing its already narrow majority in the Dáil.

Speaking on Today FM’s The Sunday Supplement, Mr Cowen predicted that the Government would defeat this week a Fine Gael move to force the Waterford by-election.

The Government has already defeated a Sinn Féin effort to move the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election.

Mr Cowen said it was important that the Government proceed with its policies.

Asked if that meant there would be no by-elections on his watch, he replied: “Well, I mean, as far as I’m concerned, I’m going to make sure we continue on.”

Meanwhile, on a much lighter note, Mr Cowen has laughed off media criticism of his holiday habits.

In 2008, a Sunday newspaper reported how Mr Cowen and his family were holidaying in a caravan park in Connemara.

“Jaysus, it’s gas, you know, when you try and keep some sense of normality and continuity in your life, the media come down and [say] very inappropriate for the Taoiseach to be, horror of horrors, sharing a holiday with others in the area that he’s been sharing it with for 10 or 15 years,” he said. “You know me: I’m a man of simple pleasures. I go down and have my round of golf, walk on the beaches and meet a few friends for a relaxing few hours.”