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UNLESS THERE’S ANY major hiccups, we should know the identity of the country’s two new TDs by the end of the weekend.
Polling stations are opening around now in Dublin South West and in Roscommon-South Leitrim in the race to take over from, respectively, Brian Hayes and Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan in the Dáil.
The Fine Gael former junior minister and the outspoken Independent automatically vacated their seats when they were elected to the European Parliament back in May.
Schools, libraries and other public buildings will be open to voters until polls close at 10pm tonight. You’ll find a full list of candidates in the Dublin contest here, and one for the ‘Ming’ succession race here.
If you happen to be in either of the constituencies, remember — you don’t need a polling card to vote, but you may be asked to produce other ID.
According to the Department of the Environment:
If you do not have appropriate identification or the presiding officer is not satisfied that you are the person to whom the identification relates you will not be permitted to vote.
Polling staff will accept passports, driving licences, student cards and a range of other documents; a full list is available on the Department’s website.
McNulty-gate
Meanwhile, we’ll also find out today whether Fine Gael’s John McNulty will be elected to the Seanad despite asking not to be considered in the by-election for the vacant seat following huge controversy over his appointment to a state board.
Either McNulty or the independent candidate Gerard Craughwell, a former president of the TUI, are expected to win the by-election for the seat vacated by Fine Gael’s Deirdre Clune. Sinn Féin is also running councillor Catherine Seeley. Only members of the Oireachtas are allowed vote in the poll.
While several government TDs, Senators and ministers have indicated they have voted for McNulty, despite his request for them not to do so, others in the coalition have thrown their support behind Craughwell.
It’s also understood that some TDs and Senators have spoiled their ballots.
A result in the by-election is expected before lunchtime with counting of ballots due to get under way at 11am in Leinster House. TheJournal.ie will be reporting live from the counting room. Follow @TJ_Politcs
Additional reporting, Hugh O’Connell.
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The most down-played by-elections ever. I wonder if the mainstream media will even announce who gets elected?
May be of interest to some ~
#By-Election ~ Roscommon debate on Prime Time. The Dublin debate is also on the player ~
Better chance of a good budget if fg and lab get hammered today.
In for 18 months get a few expenses and off again, a handy stop gap measure
The whole McNulty affair and the coverage it was given was a national scandal and humiliating in the extreme. What will Martina ‘I love the sound of my own voice’ Fitzgerald do now ??
Bed is where fg should be put..manifest liars !
Jack maybe your right who would you put in their place
I think fg are doing a pretty good job at sorting this mess we are in
Did anyone see Frank Feighan canvassing for the FG ejiit? msybe he is too bust training for his next fight Frank you are a thug!
Good luck to john mcnulty today in the by election and all his team
It’s about time this story was put to bed
Correct if he is not elected then we can all move on from Enda’s dogs mess.
FG are going to get the seat either way. #dirtytricks
Where’s the list of candidates for Dublin-West Daragh? Both links pertain to the Roscommon-South Leitrim contest!
Was there not 11 of these candidates on prime time during the week talking about what they were going to do for the people in the area. I know there were candidates talking a load of crap as one of them said I work in a sandwich shop & that is not what I went to college for, another woman was talking about I run my own business & I know how difficult it is for people who live on minimum wage. So we know what she payed her staff. I other looked as if he just wanted to head for the nearest pub. I sat there & thought oh my god is this what we are really down to. I dont live in that area but none of them would make me want to vote for them I think I would vote for my dog first as they hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. I wonder what the employer of the guy who thought he was to highly qualified for a job in a sandwich shop thought of his comment. Well if he gets elected then he can give up the sandwich shop job. As Bertie said I don’t have a bank account so at least he was honest when he said this as you require a bank account to get paid for work and since he never had one then he never worked was just employed
#By-Election ~ Roscommon debate on Prime Time. The Dublin debate is also on the player ~
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