THE Coalition will enter the election campaign shortly with a potential bonus seat arising from the unexpected decision by the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, to retire from politics.
The Government is progressing with its plans to call the general election on Thursday or Friday of next week, or Wednesday of the following week. The expected poll date is Friday, May 23rd, or Thursday, May 29th.
The first public signal of the Government's intention was given by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, yesterday when he said that May was a more likely date than the autumn.
But still stressing that no date had been fixed, the Taoiseach told reporters yesterday that they would call the election at a time which was most convenient from the Government's point of view.
Acknowledging the extent of the speculation as to when the dissolution of the Dail would occur, the Ceann Comhairle and joint Father of the House, Mr Treacy, announced yesterday that he did not desire to become a member at the next general election.
He would not, he said, be availing of his constitutional right to automatic reelection to the new 28th Dail.
His retirement automatically returns South Tipperary to a three seater, giving Labour's out going TD, Mr Michael Ferris, a good chance of re election.
Alderman Seamus Healy, representing the Clonmel Unemployed Association, a former Labour supporter, is also tipped as a strong contender. He succeeded in having three other members of that organisation elected to Clonmel Corporation in the last local elections.
The possible entry into the ring of Mr Sean Kelly, the world's former top professional cyclist,, could upset the Government's advantage. He is a native of Carrick on Suir.
The Taoiseach was personally informed by Mr Treacy on Tuesday about his impending announcement. He told the other party leaders yesterday morning.
The Ceann Comhairle was given warm tributes by all party leaders and Tipperary TDs after he had announced his decision to the Dail.
He responded, with his wry humour, that your tributes have been such I have had to kick my self to ascertain if I was still alive. At the same time, I know full well there are some members of the House who are damn glad to see the back of me".
Aged 73, Mr Treacy was first elected as a Labour deputy in 1961. He first served as Ceann Comhairle in the Cosgrave/Corish Coalition between 1973-77.
He served as a member of the European Parliament from 1981-84, filling the vacancy created by Mrs Eileen Desmond's appointment to the Cabinet. He defied the Labour whip to vote against contraceptives legislation in 1985.
From then onwards, he became an Independent and, arguably, the luckiest man in Irish politics. He has served as Ceann Comhairle for a decade, the automatic choice for the post as the Dail grappled with the election of minority and Coalition Governments.
The Ceann Comhairle had to be elected before the Dail parties could get down to the task of negotiating a Government and electing a Taoiseach.
Besides creating a potential seat bonus for the Coalition parties, at this point Mr Treacy's retirement will open up the opportunity for the incoming Government facing a hung Dail situation to offer the position to an Independent TD.
Sources in Government circles are now indicating that if the election is called on May 1st or 2nd - appearances at the Dunnes payments tribunal permitting - the poll will be held on a Friday.
But if the Dail is dissolved the following Wednesday, the poll would take place on the Thursday running into the June bank holiday weekend.
