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Donegal Fine Gael
Senator Joe McHugh has received the support of a
Fianna Fail Seanad colleague in his call for the
forthcoming general election to be held at the
weekend.
Senator McHugh said he would forward a petition to
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern calling for polling day not
to be held on a Thursday as previously suggested.
“I’ve already received support from Fianna Fáil’s
Mary O’Rourke who, in the Seanad this week, said she
would urge the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to
oppose Thursday voting,” said Senator McHugh.
“I will also be contacting the students’ unions in
the various campuses and will be looking for student
leaders to back this campaign.”
The general election candidate for Donegal North
East, also urged the Fianna Fáil leader to support a
FG Private Members Bill that would ensure elections
are held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
"If the Taoiseach is really serious about democracy
he must ensure that all the people entitled to vote
will have the right and opportunity to do so.
“An election held on a Thursday will disenfranchise
many people in Donegal, particularly students
attending universities in the North who are not
eligible for a postal vote.”
Senator McHugh said he hoped the new Northern
Assembly Education Minister could also remedy this
problem and facilitate students from the Republic
who wanted to exercise their franchise on polling
day.
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