Vol. 80 No. 2
I move:—
That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue his writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present Dáil consequent on the death of Deputy Seán Tubridy, a member for the constituency of West Galway.
On this motion I should like to say this: The Taoiseach has declared that a dangerous situation exists as a result of armed attempts to challenge the authority of Government. He has asked for a united front against violence in this situation. The Government sees fit to call a by-election in the constituency of Galway. In the light of the Taoiseach's statement, and recognising that the maintenance of order is of paramount importance, we do not propose to contest this election in Galway and we do not propose to move the motion standing in the name of Deputy Doyle for the writ for the by-election in the constituency of Kilkenny. We shall not move for this writ until the Taoiseach finds himself in a position to say that this danger of civil disturbance is passed, when we propose to move, and in the ensuing election challenge the political and economic policy of the Government Party, so that our people may with calm deliberation pass judgment on the respective merits of the opposing policies of our Party and the Fianna Fáil Party.
In view of the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition, we will have to reconsider the question of having the election in Galway. It is to give an opportunity to the Opposition to contest Government policy that a by-election like this would usually be held. At the same time there are other considerations, and I would ask that the matter should be left over for decision until some time before the House adjourns to-night.
Consideration postponed.
