McEntee wins the 1st seat in Meath East

Helen McEntee has become the first TD elected in Meath East. McEntee topped the poll with 9957votes but had to wait to be elected on the fifth count.

Having finished just 40 votes shy of the Quota after the 1st Count, McEntee fell shy of being elected on the fourth count by just one vote. After transfers from Jean Murray she was brought her over the line to surpass the quota of 9997.

Helen McEntee is currently the Minister for Justice and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael.

She served as Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People from 2016 to 2017 and as Minister of State for European Affairs from 2017 to 2020 during crucial Brexit negotiations with Brussels.

She was appointed Minister for Justice in June 2020.

The daughter of Shane McEntee, who served as a Fine Gael TD from 2005 until 2012, she worked at Leinster House as a personal assistant to her father. Following his death in December 2012, she successfully contested the 2013 Meath East by-election to replace him, becoming the youngest female TD in the 31st Dáil at 26.

She was re-elected in the 2016 general election and again in 2020. Following Heather Humphreys' decision last month not to contest the next general election, she succeeded her as deputy leader of the party.