Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:230 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment when he will announce the date of the 1997 Presidential Election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13758/97]
Written Answers. - Presidential Election.
Article 12.3.3 of the Constitution provides that an election for the office of President shall be held not later than, and not earlier than, the sixtieth day before the date of the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing President. The term of office of the current holder is due to expire on 2 December 1997, which would imply that the election would take place on a date between 3 October and 2 December 1997.
Should a vacancy occur before the completion of the President's term of office, the election date will have to be determined in accordance with the further provision of Article 12.3.3 that the election shall be held within 60 days after the concurrence of the vacancy. Because there is currently no vacancy, I cannot at this point state when the date of the election will be announced.