Perhaps I shall bring a little womanly commonsense and decorum to the House on this issue. I speak as a Deputy from the neighbouring constituency of Longford-Westmeath and in particular from the end of the constituency representing Westmeath which borders on the area so ably represented by the late Deputy Cowen. I join with Deputies Connolly and Hyland and others who expressed regret at the passing of Deputy Cowen and at the necessity for such a debate.
I strongly support the moving of the writ. I support my colleagues in putting forward the arguments they have in the debate today. I put it to the Government that the reason this by-election is not being held is because they have heeded the lessons which were learned from the Dublin Central by-election. There was no delay about that by-election but rather an unseemly rush to hold it because the Government were of the opinion that their policies found approval. They rushed to the polls in Dublin Central and the result was a massive vote of disapproval of Government policy and handling of affairs.
Deputies Kelly and Barrett made great play about the fact that there are four competent Deputies representing Laoighis-Offaly. Nobody denies that.
They are highly capable Deputies, in particular Deputies Hyland and Connolly. Deputy Kelly made great play about the Constitution and quoted from it. The Constitution states that there should be a certain number of Deputies per head of the population. The constituency of Laoighis-Offaly is not being properly served at present in that some of the population are not represented in the national Parliament despite the efficiency and work of the aforementioned four Deputies. The Government intend that this remain so for slightly less than the next 12 weeks.
At the last meeting of Offaly County Council a person was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Deputy Cowen. The people of whom we speak today wished to replace their representative on the council immediately. They observed the decencies and at their next possible meeting they put forward their candidate for co-option to the county council. If they saw fit to do that, why should the voters at large in Laoighis-Offaly not be given the right to put forward their nominee to represent them nationally? I submit that the reason the Government do not wish this by-election to be called is that they know well that their policies, drift and direction and overall philosophy will not appeal to the people, particularly those in the midlands.
There are many problems in the Laoighis-Offaly constituency. My constituency touches on some of them. There are matters concerning energy, employment, hospitals, designation of disadvantaged areas and particularly the position of the ESB and Bord na Móna are exciting tremendous interest and discussion. In a small but neighbourly way in an adjoining constituency I have been involved in public meetings relating to these issues. I have been asked about these issues and I have sought clarification of the party's Front Bench on matters relating to energy as it affects the ESB and Bord na Móna. I am not happy with the direction and the underlying thrust of what seems to be the Government's policy on these matters. This is another cogent reason why the Government should not withhold from the voters of Laoighis-Offaly the chance to express what they think of impending changes in this direction. As well as the weeks which have elapsed since Deputy Cowen's death, it will be at least another ten weeks before voters can express their views of the Government's policies towards the constituency of Laoighis-Offaly.
In the Dublin Central by-election before Christmas the people had an opportunity in an urban area to express their views on the direction which the Government were taking. The views were not clouded or blurred; they were very clear and strong. The Government should now submit their policies to the electoral test in Laoighis-Offaly, which is a mainly rural constituency. What have they to fear? Deputy Barrett told us about their vast legislative programme so why not put that to the voters now so as they can pass judgment on the areas affecting them — health, family planning, energy and bog utilisation? A comprehensive package should be prepared by the Government to put before the voters. However, because of cowardice and reasons of an undemocratic nature, they will not allow their policies to be submitted to the electorate.
Deputy Barrett's example of February 1981 was not, as he well knows, valid because at that time it was known that there would be a general election in May or June of that year. We are now talking about holding a Laoighis-Offaly by-election within the vaster European context. The Government want to hold the by-election in conjunction with the European elections because their defeat will be smothered in the overall European defeat. The Government made great play in their Joint Programme for Government that democracy would always be at the core of their deliberations. In the interests of democracy they should now operate a checks and balances operation. We saw how they were regarded in an urban constituency; now let us see how they are regarded in a rural constituency. There should not be so much reliance on marketing surveys; let us have the real thing. The only thing that counts are the votes that are cast in every constituency in the country. The Government should take their courage in their hands and, if the result is not in their favour, perhaps it is time for a change of direction as outlined by various economic forecasters in the last few days.
The constituency of Laoighis-Offaly has always been very ably represented, especially by Deputy Cowen. I ask the Government to drop the hypocritical reasons they have advanced for not holding this by-election. They only wish to postpone this election because they know what the result will be. I do not look forward to a death but I look forward to an occasion when there is a by-election for a different reason, and I am sure that the Government will rush to the polling stations. The people of Laoighis-Offaly want this by-election. I cannot speak for the cuid a haons and the cuid a dós of Deputy Kelly's constituency as they are a mystery to me. The people of Laoighis-Offaly have a constitutional right to have their representative elected to put forward their points of view. I am looking forward to hearing Deputy Enright putting forward his point of view and to seeing it published in his local newspaper——