BY-ELECTION RULED OUT.

Byline: BRIAN HUTTON

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen yesterday ruled out a Donegal South West by-election at the same time as the second Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The seat in Tanaiste Mary Coughlan's constituency was vacated by Fianna Fail's Pat "The Cope" Gallagher after his election to the European Parliament last month.

Sinn Fein, who are hoping Senator Pearse Doherty could snatch it from the Government party despite his poor performance in the last General Election, demanded an early by-election.

The party's Dail leader Caoimhghin O'Caolain said both cost and convenience dictated the poll should be held on the same day as the Lisbon II ballot in early October.

He added this would require the Government to "move the writ" - a process needed in the Dail leading to a vote - before TDs take their summer break.

But Mr Cowen, whose party's already slim majority of four TDs would be further cut to three if they lost in Donegal, signalled he was in no hurry to replace it.

He said: "We don't intend to move the writ before the Dail recess."

Pressed on whether he would hold the by-election in tandem with the Lisbon Treaty poll, he added: "I wouldn't think so."

CAPTION(S):

EUROPE Pat 'The Cope'