Voters go to polls in by-elections
Voters go to the polls this morning in the Meath and Kildare North constituencies in two eagerly-awaited by-elections.
Fianna Fáil will be aiming to profit from healthy opinion polls and build a platform for an overall parliamentary majority at the next General Election.
The Government party will also be hoping to shake off the political shockwave from the recent illegal nursing home charges debacle.
But opposition parties, Fine Gael and Labour will need to poll strongly to offer a credible alternative administration at the next General Election.
The by-election campaigns have shone a spotlight on post-Celtic Tiger issues in their sprawling commuter belts like traffic gridlock, overcrowded schools and childcare costs.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Cassells in Meath has a good chance to win their first by-election for a government party since 1982.
However, he will face stiff opposition from Fine Gael’s Shane McEntee who was first on the hustings with a leaflet drop during Christmas week.
Sinn Féin candidate councillor Joe Reilly is a tireless local activist in Navan and his performance will be the first real indicator of how recent criminality links to the party is effecting its popular vote.
The bookies favour veteran independent councillor Catherine Murphy in Kildare North but Fianna Fáil’s Aine Brady is expected to mop up the support of former Finance Minister Charlie McCreedy who vacated his seat to become an EU Commissioner.
Councillor Darren Scully of Fine Gael and Labour’s councillor Paddy McNamara have also been getting a positive anti-government reaction on the campaign trail.
Opposition parties will be hoping for a high turnout in the neighbouring Leinster constituencies to maximise transfers.
Polling will close at 10pm tonight and counting will begin in Naas and Navan count centres at 9am tomorrow morning.
