Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----which puts forward practical solutions to the problems the people face.

I support the proposal before the House to hold the by-election, which is in line with the commitment the Government gave and for which we brought proposals to this House that by-elections should be held within a reasonable period of time of the vacancy occurring. This is now an opportunity for the people of Meath East to consider a replacement for Shane McEntee, who served the people of his county so well. I hope the debate on the by-election will be conducted on the basis of the policies being put forward by the respective candidates and the solutions - if any - that they offer for the problems faced by the people of the country, in particular the problems faced by the people of the constituency of Meath East. I look forward to that campaign and to engaging with Members of this House in that debate.

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