Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I and my party agree with the motions to move the writs for the by-elections to be held at the end of November. This was discussed earlier this year with all party leaders. I will move the writ for the Cork North-Central seat that has become vacant because of our former Member, Billy Kelleher, being elected to the European Parliament. Billy was first elected to this House in 1997 until July of this year. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1993 and served there until 1997. Billy served the people of Cork North Central with great distinction, pride and good humour. He is a valued colleague and friend and we wish him well in his role in the European Parliament, where he has hit the ground running on many topical issues that concern Europe and Ireland, and indeed Ireland South.

Our candidate, Pádraig O'Sullivan, who is an excellent public representative as a councillor, is already canvassing in Cork North-Central, and we believe he is a dynamic person. He is a teacher by profession and a community activist. Pádraig wants to represent the people of Cork North-Central in the Dáil, wants to help them access proper public services when they need them, and wants to be a significant part in tackling the housing crisis that is not just in Cork but is throughout this country and is a scourge on society. I have no doubt that he will be joining us very soon in the Dáil, along with our other candidates: Lorraine Clifford-Lee in Dublin Fingal, who will be joining my colleague, Deputy Darragh O'Brien; Malcolm Byrne in Wexford, who will be joining Deputy James Browne; and in Dublin Mid-West, my namesake, James Moynihan, who will be joining Deputy John Curran. I wish them well in the forthcoming by-elections. We have a fantastic bunch of candidates and I wish them every success as we head into the final weeks of this campaign.

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