If Maurice Ahern believes he can win the Dublin Central Bye-Election, he needs to explain to the electorate why he is running for the City Council as well, according to Fine Gael candidate, Senator Paschal Donohoe.
“Under the rules, which outlaw the so-called ‘dual mandate’, nobody is allowed to be a sitting TD and a sitting Councillor. Anybody who wins election to the Dáil must immediately resign their Council seat.
“This makes the dual candidacy of Maurice Ahern very strange indeed. Should Maurice win the Bye-Election, he would have to resign the Council seat which, presumably, he would also win.
“I am calling on Maurice to answer two questions;
Does the fact that he is running for both the Council and the Dáil indicate that he is not at all confident of victory in the Bye-Election?
How can he ask people to vote for him in two local elections if his intention is to abandon his Council seat if he wins the Bye-Election?
“It doesn’t take a genius to see that Maurice is trying to have his cake and eat it. It is insulting to electorate of Dublin Central to run in two elections on the same day when he can only legally occupy one position. He should make a statement now clarifying the matter.”