26th March 2002

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SF candidate calls for general election to be held on a Saturday

The Sinn Fein candidate for Tallaght and Dublin South-West has called on the Government to hold the general election on a Saturday as the first step to increasing voter turn-out at the polls.

South Dublin County Councillor Seán Crowe has also called for candidates from all the other parties, including Fianna Fáil and the PDs, to back the move for voting on a Saturday rather than the customary Thursday.

Cllr Crowe said that a Saturday election would make it easier for people to get to the polls. He said:

``It is clear that the weekday poll on the abortion referendum and the timing actively prevented many people, particularly people working outside the home and students, from exercising their right to vote.

``The first and easiest step the Government can bring in to encourage more people to go to the polls is to hold the general election on a Saturday.''

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