NEWLY-ELECTED SINN FÉIN TD Pearse Doherty has taken his seat in the Dáil.
Doherty was elected by a wide margin in the recent Donegal South West by-election.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen welcomed the new TD, saying it was a proud day for him and his family, and alluded to the upcoming general elections by saying he was taking his seat for a shorter time than was usually the case.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny welcomed Doherty, but warned him not to take it easy and rest on his laurels, as he will have to run for his seat when the general election is called.
Eamon Ryan welcomed Doherty on behalf of the Green Party, saying it was a proud day for Doherty, his family and his party, “which we all recognise”.
Doherty, who was serving as a senator at the time, pushed the government into calling the by-election by taking a High Court action over the delay in filling the seat made vacant by Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher’s election as an MEP. The court ruled that there had been an unreasonable delay in holding the by-election.
One of the by-election candidates, Independent Ann Sweeney, pulled out of the election after the government had agreed to call an election in the New Year, saying that the Donegal poll had been rendered redundant.
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