Dublin South West and Roscommon South Leitrim by-elections to take place on 10 October

The empty seats are because of Brian Hayes and Luke Ming Flanagan’s election as MEPs.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS moved the writs for the Dublin South-West and Roscommon-South Leitrim by-elections.

It made the move on the first day back after the summer break, meaning that the by-elections will officially take place on Friday 10 October.

The vacancies arose in May after Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes (Dublin South-West) and the independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim) were elected to the European Parliament.

This meant that they automatically and immediately vacated their seats in Leinster House.

By law, both by-elections must be held within six months of the seats becoming vacant. This means that November is the last possible month that they could take place.

It was speculated that the Government would want the elections to take place before the Budget on 14 October – meaning that the writs would need to be moved as soon as the Dáil returned today.

By law, polling day must be between the 18th and 25th day (excluding public holidays, Good Friday and Sundays) after the writ has been issued.

The candidates are:

Dublin South West

Sinn Féin: Cllr Cathal King
Fine Gael: Senator Cáit Keane
Fianna Fáil: Cllr John Lahart
Labour: Cllr Pamela Kearns
Anti-Austerity Alliance: Paul Murphy
Greens: Cllr Francis Noel Duffy
Independent: Declan Burke
Independent: Cllr Ronan McMahon
People Before Profit: Cllr Nicky Coules

Roscommon South Leitrim

Sinn Féin: Councillor Martin Kenny
Labour: Senator John Kelly
Fine Gael: Cllr Maura Hopkins
Fianna Fáil: Cllr Ivan Connaughton
Independent: Michael Fitzmaurice
Independent: Gerry O’Boyle
Independent: Tom Crosby
Independent: Cllr Des Guckian

Read: Here’s why Fine Gael transfers could decide the ‘Ming’ by-election>

Read: It’s on… All the main parties have now picked their hopefuls in the battle for Dublin SW>

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