FIANNA FÁIL ministers are reportedly considering holding the by-election to the vacant Dáil seat in Donegal South-West before polls to fill the other two Dáil vacancies, in order to avoid facing a court order to do so.

It was reported last week that the government was to hold all three by-elections – for the Donegal seat, as well as vacancies in Waterford and Dublin South – alongside the referendum on children’s rights in the new year.

It is reported in today’s Sunday Times, however, that Fianna Fáil cabinet members are keen to go against the Greens’ desires to hold the aforementioned ballots alongside the election of a new Dublin Mayor, and hold the Donegal ballot before the other two.

The government has come under pressure to move the writ for the election to the Donegal South-West seat, vacated by Pat the Cope Gallagher when he was elected to the European Parliament in June 2009, after Sinn Féin senator Pearse Doherty lodged a court case compelling the writ to be moved.

The case is set to be heard in court on October 18 but it appears that Fianna Fáil ministers believe the action – which they fear would result in an embarrassing defeat for the government – can be warded off if it firmly commits to holding the poll before the court forces it to.

Doherty told the paper he believed the government had effectively conceded the case but that he would not withdraw his legal action.

It’s broadly perceived that the government is trying to hold off on filling the three Dáil vacancies – the other two being created by the resignations of George Lee and Martin Cullen – as it tries to protect its narrowing parliamentary majority.