asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the probable date on which the general election will be held.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Date of General Election.
I cannot indicate the date more precisely than to say that I propose that the election should take place as early as practicable in the coming year. Everything depends on the speed with which essential public business is completed by the present Dáil. As I have pointed out already, it is desirable that the Electoral (Amendment) Bill and the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Bill should become law before the election is held. It is also desirable that certain other important legislative measures should be passed. Further, new polling schemes will have to be made where they are required to suit the altered constituencies, and the existing register of electors will be affected in every case in which a constituency is altered in name or extent.
Can the Taoiseach say if we may expect the election in January if this essential legislation which he says has to go through the House is passed before the Christmas recess?
I cannot give the Deputy definite answers to purely hypothetical questions with regard to this matter. I do not know myself and I cannot tell others what I myself do not know.
Would the Taoiseach inform the House if it is intended to have the customary Christmas recess or whether, if the Dáil adjourns before Christmas, it is not likely to reassemble?
We will know all about it when we come to that fence.
We want to know too.
I do not know. The Deputies must appreciate that I do not know, precisely, myself and I cannot therefore commit myself in any way.
Mr. Corish
Will the Taoiseach tell us if the weather will be a consideration? If we have the same type of weather as we had last year we may have a fluke of an election.
Precisely. We have to keep that in mind.
Can the Taoiseach give us a list of the other legislative measures that he considers should be passed before the dissolution takes place?
The principal Bills on the Order Paper. The Finance Bill should certainly be got through. The Supplies and Services Bill, which has not yet been introduced, must be passed before the end of the year, and so forth. There are a number of things like that.
Would the Taoiseach consider making a definite statement on that matter next week? Would he consider giving us a definite list of the measures he thinks should be passed before the dissolution takes place?
In so far as it is possible to give advance information, I will. But I cannot be certain.
May we assume that no other budget will be introduced before the election?
I do not know that either.
Would the Taoiseach consider the possibility, subject to the view of the ecclesiastical authorities, of making provision for the holding of the election on a Sunday?
No, not yet anyhow.