By-election for Gallagher's seat will not be held with Lisbon vote

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today ruled out a Donegal South West by-election at the same time as the second Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The seat in Tánaiste Mary Coughlan’s constituency was vacated by Fianna Fail’s Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher after his election to the European parliament last month.

Sinn Féin, who are hoping Senator Pearse Doherty could snatch it from the Government party despite his disappointing performance in the last general election, demanded an early by-election.

The party’s Dáil leader Caoimhghin O Caolain said both cost and convenience dictated the poll should be held on the same day as the Lisbon II ballot in early October.

This would require the Government to “move the writ” – a process needed in the Dáil leading to a by-election – before TDs take their summer break, he said.

But Mr Cowen, whose party’s already-slim majority of four TDs would be further cut to three if they lost the Donegal battle, signalled he was in no hurry to replace it.

“We don’t intend to move the writ before the Dáil recess,” he said.

Pressed on whether he would hold the by-election in tandem with the Lisbon Treaty poll, he added: “I wouldn’t think so.”

Fine Gael’s Denis Naughten TD quipped that he was sure the Tánaiste was looking for a new pair of shoes for the by-election campaign.