Greens and SF call for weekend election

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s suggestion in the Dáil that the General Election may be held on a Thursday has been widely condemned today.

The Green Party led the calls for the election to be held on a weekend, claiming that a Thursday election would reduce the turnout amongst younger voters.

"If an Taoiseach chooses a midweek date for the election it will discriminate against students who spend part of the week away from home, close to their place of education," said environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe.

"It would be hard for many students and young people to travel home for a mid-week election and would interrupt their studies. A weekend or failing that, a Friday election, is the best option to increase voter turn-out amongst students and others voting for the first time.

Sinn Féin MEP, and candidate for the Taoiseach’s constituency of Dublin Central, Mary Lou McDonald also called for the election to be held on a Saturday.

"Any arguments used against holding weekend elections in the past are now completely redundant considering the second referendum on the Treaty of Nice was held on a Saturday," said Ms McDonald.

"Sinn Féin would be happy to see a late May election date to avoid another clash with the leaving cert as was the case in the 2004 local and European elections. This would also ensure that there is no clash with college exams in early to mid-May.

"However, the least that we should expect would be that young voters and those working away from home would be accommodated by a Saturday election."