asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can state whether the Local Government Elections will be held on the dates already announced, and, if so, whether they will be carried out under the existing law governing such elections.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DATES OF L.G. ELECTIONS.
The 15th July is the earliest date on which the elections could be held on the new Register now approaching completion, and if it is generally desired they can be held on that date. It may possibly be considered feasible to alter the date in the course of discussion on the Local Government Bill, 1924, which is being introduced. It would be desirable that the law concerning election procedure and abuses made applicable to the Dáil elections in the Electoral Act, 1923, should be extended to local government elections, but it is doubtful whether a measure to this effect can be included, having regard to the extent of the current legislative programme.
Are we to understand the Minister as saying that the question of the date of the election will depend upon the course of the discussion on the Local Government Bill, which is to be introduced?
No. The election is fixed for this particular date as it stands, but I would be open to consider a change if a number of Deputies were anxious or desirous of such a change.
Are we to take it that all the elections are to be held on the dates last fixed—elections for all the local governing bodies?
No; I should not say so.
Will the Minister give us some information as to what is the intention of his Department regarding the elections?
I think I have done so in the answer to Deputy Wilson's question.
Surely the Minister recognises that he left the matter open. He did not give a decision at all, and we are in the end of May now.
I was quite precise in saying that the 15th July is the date fixed for the election.
For all the elections?
For the Local Government elections.
For all the elections under the present law, including District Council elections?
I have not mentioned anything about District Councils at all.
Will the Minister say whether he intends that the District Council, the County Council, the Urban Council, and any other elections which normally would be required to be held in July of this year, will be held on the date mentioned?
I have given all the information available already.