THE ADJOURNMENT of the oral hearings of the Duane payments tribunal did not have "any implications" for the general election date, according to a Government spokesman.
Following yesterday's decision by Mr Justice McCracken to suspend the hearings at Dublin Castle, senior sources in Leinster House ruled out the possibility of the Dail being dissolved this week. The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, is now thought more likely to announce an election in midMay, with polling on June 6th. Sources have not dismissed the possibility that he will seek a dissolution next week when the Dail meets for just a day and a half.
Mr Bruton and the other party leaders in Government are understood to favour a campaign of three rather than four weeks.
The former lender of the Progressive Democrats, Mr Des O'Malley, said that, given the tribunal chairman's decision to adjourn the proceedings, it was "essential" that a general election should not be held until Mr Michael Lowry and the former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey had given their testimony. "To hold a general election before the completion of the taking of evidence by this tribunal would be foolish and could only be construed as anxiety by the Government to rush the election before the full facts became available."
Mr O'Malley also called for the terms of reference of the tribunal to be extended to allow it to deal with the tax implications of any payments made to Mr Lowry or allegedly made to Mr Haughey.