The Government has been urged to hold the byelection caused by the resignation of Independent TD Patrick Nulty on the same day as the European and local elections on May 23rd.
Mr Nulty – who was selected as a Labour TD for Dublin West in a byelection in October 2011, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Brian Lenihan – resigned his seat at the weekend after the disclosure of inappropriate Facebook messages to female constituents, one of them 17 years old.
Green Party local election candidate in Castleknock, Roderic O’Gorman, last night called for the Dublin West byelection to be held on May 23rd, the date on which elections are already scheduled to take place.
Same day
"While this byelection is sudden, there is nothing to prevent the Government from holding it on the same day as the local and European elections. This will save money and allow the people of Dublin West to have their full complement of representation in the Dáil as soon as possible," he said.
Mr O’Gorman, who contested the byelection in 2011 and is expected to be a candidate again this time around, added while the contest did not have to be held for another six months, there was no reason to wait that long.
Another constituency colleague of Mr Nulty’s, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said she was “shocked and very distressed” when she heard about his conduct.
Double triumph
Mr Nulty was originally elected as a Labour TD with Ms Burton's backing in a double triumph for the Labour Party on the same day as Michael D Higgins was elected president.
Mr Nulty subsequently voted against the 2012 budget and lost the party whip.
The Minister described the former TD’s actions in sending inappropriate messages as “utterly unacceptable” and said she was very concerned about the women involved.
Very concerned
"I certainly just found it utterly unacceptable and I would be very concerned for the people who had what must have been a very difficult experience for them," Ms Burton said when asked about his behaviour.
“No woman should have to put up with that kind of stuff. No person should have to put up with that sort of stuff.
“I want to say as well that I was really shocked and very distressed at what I heard and I do hope that the people affected by it, that they will be able to recover from what must be a very shocking and distressing experience for them, and a very unacceptable experience,” she said.
Ms Burton expressed sympathy for Mr Nulty’s family, particularly his mother and father.
“They’re a very well-respected family in the Dublin 15 area. I know that he said he has issues around alcohol and I hope he’s able to deal with those issues,” she said.
Prosecution unlikely
Although gardaí have been approached informally by the 17-year-old girl contacted by the TD, and by her mother, it is unlikely that the former TD will face prosecution.
