By-election ruling - Welcome end to shoddy charade

THERE is a tendency among tottering regimes to cling to power at any cost – a brand of political arrogance usually associated with less than constitutional ‘banana republics’.

For the past year and more, Ireland has been cast in this dubious role by the unacceptably long delay by a highly unpopular administration to move the writ for the by-election in Donegal South West.

Indeed, were it not for yesterday’s common sense ruling from the president of the High Court, this teetering Government would have shamelessly continued to hold the line in the face of mounting criticism.