The Government tonight voted down, by 72 votes to 68, a Fine Gael Bill compelling governments to hold byelections within six months of a vacancy arising.
Bylections are pending in Dublin South, Donegal South-West and Waterford.
The Bill, which was moved in Private Member’s time, was debated in the Dáil last night and tonight.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the Bill did not take into account unforeseen emergencies such as the swine flu epidemic or the foot and mouth outbreak.
Challenging this assertion, Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter said there was nothing to prevent the Government accepting the bill in principle and amending it at committee stages to facilitate the postponement of a byelection in exceptional circumstances or where there was a national emergency.
“However, I don’t believe that anyone would regard Minister Gormley’s speech as credible and I am not convinced that it is even credible to him,’’ he added.
Green Pary Minister of State Mary White accused Fine Gael of engaging in “almost short-term political gamesmanship’’.