asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the date on which local elections will be held in 1953; and, if not, when such date will be announced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Elections.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate whether or not the decision not to extend the life of county councils and local bodies has been reviewed.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. Legislative proposals are being prepared and will shortly be introduced to postpone the local elections due to be held this year and to extend the present statutory period between local elections.
Why does the Minister propose not to hold the local elections this year?
Because on a number of occasions approaches have been made to me as Minister. As recently as December, the executive committee of the Association of the Municipal Authorities of Ireland asked me to postpone the elections. A number of other people associated with public bodies have been making the casethat the present period of office is entirely too short. With these requests and arguments, I am in full and complete agreement.
It would not by any chance be because the Minister and his Party funks an election?
We did not funk it in 1934 or 1951.
But you are funking it in 1953.
We did not funk it in 1916 either.
Whether the challenge was blue or yellow we did not funk it.
Would the Minister say whether it is proposed to hold the local elections later this year or postpone them until the following year?
I will repeat what I said. Legislative proposals have been prepared and will shortly be introduced to postpone the local elections due to be held this year and to extend the statutory period between local elections.
So we will not have a chance of beating you in the local elections?
You seem to be very happy about that.
You beat us so badly in 1951 that we never got over it.
Your nerves are all very bad.
The Dublin by-election shook you.
You will give us a go in Wicklow.