TAOISEACH Brian Cowen told the Dáil yesterday that the byelection in Dublin South to replace George Lee would be held “in due course”.
There is no expectation in Leinster House that the byelection will be held in the near future.
There is already one vacancy in the Dáil, created by the departure of Donegal South West TD Pat the
Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament last June.
Fianna Fáil has resisted pressure from the Opposition to move the writ for the Donegal byelection and Fine Gael is not likely to be in any hurry to move the Dublin South byelection.
Tradition dictates that when a TD resigns or dies, his own party should move the writ but it has to be approved by a majority in the Dáil.
This gives the Government of the day control over the timing of byelections.
