FG gears up for by-elections with new posters

Fine Gael's bid for victory in the two upcoming by-elections in Meath and Kildare North geared up today with the release of a new poster campaign.

The party is running Mr Shane McEntee in Meath and Mr Darren Scully in Kildare North. The seats were vacated by the departure of Mr John Bruton to Washington and former minister for finance Mr Charlie McCreevy to take up a commissioner's post in Brussels.

Mr Enda Kenny described the two candidates as "excellent" at the unveiling of the poster campaign outside Leinster House today.

Fine Gael's chances of retaining Mr Bruton's seat in Meath look much improved this week following the standing down of Fianna Fáil candidate Cllr Tommy Reilly.

He decided not to run after it emerged that he had bought land in 1997 with the disgraced public relations consultant Mr Frank Dunlop.

The party will hold a new selection later this week.

Other candidates in Meath will include Mr Dominic Hannigan (Labour), Mr Joe Reilly (SF), Mr Fergal O'Byrne (Green Party) and Ms Sirena Campbell (PD).

Fianna Fáil have so far been unsuccessful in convincing Mr McCreevy's son Charles Jnr to run for the seat his father vacated.

Candidates confirmed so far are Mr Scully (FG), Mr Paddy McNamara (Labour), Mr J.J. Power (Green Party), Senator Kate Walsh (PD), Ms Catherine Murphy (Independent) and Mr Senan O'Coistin (Ind).

The date for the two votes has yet to be set.