Election of Dublin Mayor "set for October" 2010

The Irish Independent are reporting that the John Gormley is insisting the first direct election for a Dublin mayor will go ahead in October 2010.

Legislation establishing the position will not now be passed until September 2010 at the earliest but the Environment Minister maintains an election will be held just weeks later. A spokesman for Mr Gormley said the legislation will be published before the Dail rises for the summer recess early next month. "It can be done, it will be done and that (an October election) is the intention," he said.

Does this mean the by-elections will have to be held in October 2010 as well?

Not if Fianna Fail get their way. According to Government Chief Whip John Curran is is inappropriate for the Dublin South by-election to go ahead now because the Dáil "is in the middle of an extremely busy legislative programme". Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South Central) asked why Minister for Communications and Dublin South Green Party TD Eamon Ryan was not in the House for the debate. "In the past the Green Party position was to hold byelections within a very short period of time". source.

Something will have to give here. It is clear that the Govt want to avoid these by-elections at all costs. But the Green Party are determined to have the Dublin Mayoral election this year. I think it would be impossible to hold one without the other. However, I wouldn't put doing exactly that past this rotten, incompetent and corrupt Government.