Parties on election footing as candidates declare intentions... with one notable exception

Political parties in Meath are on an election footing, with the selection of candidates for both the Meath East and Meath West constituencies almost complete.

Trim's Cllr Aisling Dempsey is one of the new candidates in the race - the daughter of former minister, Noel Dempsey, accepted the Meath West Fianna Fail nomination last week after Senator Shane Cassells indicated that he would not be running in the next election.

Deputy Damien English still hasn't indicated if he will run again for Fine Gael in Meath West, but the county's other five sitting TD's - Ministers Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne, Deputies Darren O'rourke, Johnny Guirke and Peadar Toibin will all be seeking re-election.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS OF MEATH WEST AND MEATH EAST IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER