Vol. 488 No. 3
8 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the Government has chosen Wednesday as a suitable day for polling in the two by-elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4711/98]
42 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the policy of the Government in regard to the day of the week on which elections or referenda should be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5857/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 42 together.
Electoral and referendum law provides that the date and times of a poll at an election or referendum shall be appointed by order of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. In making an order appointing polling day, the Minister is required to have regard to statutory requirements in relation to the minimum period between the date of making the order and polling day, and in the case of presidential and Dáil elections, to the period set out in the Constitution within which such elections must be held. Regard must also be had to practical considerations such as the period which elapses between the close of nominations and polling day at an election and whether public holidays or other events arise during the relevant period.
Subject to these considerations, it is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to decide in making the polling day order at an election or referendum which day of the week should be appointed on which to take the poll and there is no fixed policy on the matter. In determining Wednesday as the day on which the by-election polls were to be taken I took into account all relevant considerations. Polls have been held on four different days in the past — Tuesday to Friday, inclusive. There is no indication that the day of the week selected as polling day affects the turnout.
