Seanad Bye-Elections Act, 1930

Appointment of dates of Seanad bye-elections.

2.—(1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of Seanad Eireann by the death, resignation, or disqualification of a member thereof in order to cause such vacancy to be filled the Clerk of the Seanad shall, on the direction of Seanad Eireann, send to the Minister notice (in this Act referred to as notice of a casual vacancy) in writing of such vacancy.

(2) As soon as conveniently may be and, in any case, not more than six months after receiving notice of a casual vacancy, the Minister shall by order (in this Act referred to as a bye-election order) direct a bye-election to be held to fill the vacancy mentioned in such notice or, where more than one such notice has been received by the Minister without a bye-election order having been made in consequence thereof, to fill the several vacancies mentioned in such notices respectively.

(3) Every bye-election order shall appoint—

(a) a day (in this Act referred to as the last day for receiving nominations) not less than twenty-one nor more than twenty-eight days after the date of such order which shall be the last day on which nominations of candidates for the bye-election the subject of such order may be delivered to the Seanad returning officer, and

(b) the day (in this Act referred to as the day of issue of ballot papers) on which the ballot papers for the said bye-election are to be issued and posted to electors, and

(c) the day and hour (in this Act referred to as the close of the poll) at which the poll at the said bye-election is to be closed.

(4) Every bye-election order shall state the name and official address of the Seanad returning officer for the bye-election to which such order relates.

(5) Every bye-election order shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.