Criticism for polling day decision
Mayo Fine Gael Deputy Michael Ring has today criticised the Taoiseach's decision, both in calling the election on a Sunday, and fixing the date for a Thursday.
He said the fact that polling day will be held on May 24 will prevent many students from casting their vote.
"Sunday's a family day, it's a day that people like to be with their family and I think the Taoiseach had plenty of opportunities to call this election without calling it on a Sunday," he said.
"It's anti-democratic because he's not giving the youth of this country an opportunity to vote because he has called it for Thursday the May 24. People will be doing exams and they will not be able to vote, and I think it's a disgrace."
"The Taoiseach made the decision this morning to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters," said Irishelection.com spokesperson Cian O'Flaherty.
"It signals a complete unwillingness by the Taoiseach to accept and facilitate the hard working commuters who spend so long away from home during the week."
"The Taoiseach is patently hoping commuters will stay at home. I can see no other reason why he completely ignored their concerns and went ahead with a Thursday vote.
"The as many as 300,000 commuters and 70,000 students who will struggle to vote in this election is a damnation of the Taoiseach's decision to go for a Thursday.
"The country has changed but the Taoiseach has remained the same."
