By-elections - Delaying poll an affront to democracy

In the past it was generally assumed that by-elections should be held within six months of a Dáil seat being vacated.

In the history of the Dáil there have been 125 by-elections, and the overwhelming number of those were held within six months.

Since 1980 there have been 22 bye-elections, 16 of which were necessitated by the deaths of Dáil incumbents. Seventeen, or over 77%, of those by-elections were held within six months. All but one of the other by-elections was held within 11 months.