Govt urged to name by-election date

The Government was accused of political cowardice today in refusing to name a date for the Waterford by-election – one of three areas waiting for a new TD.

Fine Gael lost a Dáil motion calling for the poll to be announced to elect Martin Cullen’s replacement, who stood down in March due to ill health.

Two other Dáil seats remain vacant, in Dublin South and Donegal South West.

Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny said it was disgraceful that the Government was afraid to go before the people in the constituency, claiming it was clinging to power.

“I contend that this Government are guilty of political cowardice in refusing to contest this by-election in the constituency of Waterford,” Mr Kenny said.

The Government defeated the motion by 77 to 72 votes.

Donegal South West has had a vacant Dáil seat since Pat ’the Cope’ Gallagher was elected MEP last June, while Dublin South has been a TD short since being vacated by George Lee in February and Waterford since the former Arts Minister Mr Cullen stepped down in March.

In a swipe at Fine Gael, Government chief whip John Curran said it was normal convention that the party whose member has left moves the writ.

“I understand this probably would have been somewhat difficult for Fine Gael to have moved the writ, taking this motion for the Dublin Constituency in which it was their own member, even though it predates the vacancy caused by the departure of Martin Cullen,” Mr Curran said.

“In that regard I refer to this as political opportunism.”

Mr Kenny hit back, claiming Fine Gael would move a private member’s motion next week requiring all by-elections be held within a six-month period.