By-election voting pact possible

A voting pact between the Government parties has not been ruled out in next month’s by-elections, it emerged today.

The Progressive Democrats’ director of elections for the Meath constituency said that a decision will be made on the issue with Fianna Fáil after the campaign gets up and running.

Speaking as the March 11 poll date was announced and candidates formally launched their campaigns, Tom Parlon said: “Voting arrangements will be something we will consider when we get into the canvassing.”

Earlier, Government parties agreed on the March 11 date at a Cabinet meeting, just hours before Fine Gael was due to move a writ for the Meath seat of former Taoiseach John Bruton.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte had also planned to move the writ for the North Kildare poll and had threatened to withdraw co-operation with the Government if his bid was rejected.

He said afterwards: “We called the Government’s bluff and they backed down. It’s embarrassing for the Government and they have been forced to backtrack.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that a decision would be made in the next week on any voting pact with his potential coalition partners, the Labour Party.

He said: “Naturally every party wants to maximise the vote for its own candidate.”