SF: Govt 'running scared' over by-elections
Sinn Féin today accused the Government of running scared of voters and wasting taxpayers' money in a court fight to prevent the Donegal South West by-election.
The party has taken the issue to judicial review, calling for a date to be set for the vote after one seat in the constituency lay empty for more than 16 months.
Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty launched the High Court challenge after the Dáil twice voted down the writ to hold the by-election.
Two other constituencies, Waterford and Dublin South, are also waiting for vacant seats to be filled.
Party president Gerry Adams said it was a great shame that the Government had gone to the High Court rather going to the polls.
“The Government is running scared of the voters of Donegal South West, and indeed those of Dublin South and of Waterford where by-elections are also overdue,” Mr Adams said.
“These constituencies are being left under-represented at a time of severe economic crisis, with far-reaching decisions being made and a savage budget being prepared by this Government.
“That is bad for the people of Donegal South West, of Dublin South and of Waterford. It is also bad for democracy.”
Senator Doherty accused the Government of using taxpayers’ money to subvert democracy.
“The people are demanding an election at the earliest opportunity, not at some vague time next year that suits the Government best,” Mr Doherty said.
“The Government’s attitude to this case has been arrogant and dismissive and they are now intent on wasting even more taxpayers’ money defending this case when they could easily have avoided it by moving the writ for the election to take place.
“In defending this case the Government has sunk to a new low.”
The Donegal South West constituency was left a TD short after Pat “The Cope” Gallagher won a seat in Europe in June last year.
Dublin South was left under-represented after RTÉ presenter George Lee quit politics and Waterford after the retirement of former minister Martin Cullen.
Government Chief Whip John Curran confirmed last month that writs for the three by-elections will be moved in Spring 201l.
An Oireachtas committee which examined electoral reform called for by-elections to be held within six months of the death or resignation of a TD
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