Ahern indicates preference for Thursday poll
Thursday, 22 March 2007 19:56
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has repeated that the Dáil will resume for a few weeks after Easter.
Speaking this lunchtime, Mr Ahern hinted strongly that whenever the General Election is held, polling will be on a Thursday.
He said, from his point of view, polling on a Friday did not work and that he would need to be persuaded if polling was to be held on a Friday again.
Voting for the last General Election in 2002 was held on a Friday.
Mr Ahern indicated that his preference was for polling on a Thursday, and once again he refused to be drawn as to when the election will take place.
Responding to the Taoiseach's comments, Labour's Environment Spokesperson Eamon Gilmore said Mr Ahern was concerned about Government supporters who were 'going to be away in their holiday homes on their extended weekends'.
Mr Gilmore also claimed that the Taoiseach feared that students who were living away from home might use their vote against the Government.
Mr Gilmore was speaking at the launch of a Labour Party proposal to lower the voting age for local and European elections to 16.
- News At One: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern speaks about possible dates for the General Election
- News At One: Labour TD Eamon Gilmore talks about when the election should take place
- News At One: Political Analyst Noel Whelan comments on how the timing of the election could effect students and their ability to vote
- Six One News: Charlie Bird, Chief News Correspondent, reports that Bertie Ahern has said that, in his opinion, Friday voting did not work in 2002
