Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The two by-elections in Roscommon-South Leitrim and Dublin South West are taking place as a result of the departure of two Members of the Dáil to the European Parliament following the elections of 23 May. This Government reformed the Electoral Act 2011 to provide that a by-election must take place within six months of a vacancy arising. Therefore, it is appropriate that, on our first day back in Dáil Éireann following the summer recess, we move as quickly as possible to fill the two vacancies. The people in both constituencies deserve the opportunity to return to their full quota of representatives in Dáil Éireann as soon as they can. I welcome the fact that these elections will be held on Friday, 10 October, and I look forward to both campaigns.

The two by-elections will take place at a time of cautious optimism about the country's future. As a result of the work undertaken by the Government, and the willingness of the people to stay the course through an immensely difficult process, we now have strong economic and employment growth. Retail sales are up, tax revenues are ahead of target and there are 75,000 more people at work since the depths of the crisis in 2012. We are on a long journey out of the dark times that befell the country and we are coming to a better future, but we are not there yet. The Government still has work to do and the upcoming budget will be an important part of cementing the recovery.

These by-elections will take place a matter of days before that budget. I have said repeatedly over recent days that while we hope this budget will be start of a process of gradually restoring prosperity, that can only be achieved over a series of budgets and not in one fell swoop.

Nonetheless, I believe people can see we are firmly on the right track and can see the signs of recovery slowly but surely spreading to their communities.

While Dublin South West and Roscommon-South Leitrim are contrasting urban and rural constituencies, many of the issues that concern the families living there are the same - getting and holding onto a good job, sending children to good schools and seeing their communities flourish. On each of these, the Labour Party is delivering.

Our number one priority is job creation, getting people off the live register and boosting employment through capital investments. To make sure that standards are maintained, we are establishing a low pay commission to recommend on the appropriate level of the minimum wage. We are driving capital investment in schools to ensure children have the facilities in which to thrive, succeed and reach their potential and we are investing in the provision of homes to rebuild communities in urban and rural Ireland.

Our two candidates in these by-elections - Councillor Pamela Kearns in Dublin South West and Senator John Kelly in Roscommon-South Leitrim - are both excellent and hardworking public representatives. They are both deeply committed to their communities and have a track record of working on issues to improve people's lives. They will each make outstanding representatives for their constituencies in Dáil Éireann, and contribute to the continuing recovery of our country.

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