Fianna Fáil’s spokesman on housing, planning and local government Darragh O’Brien (45) was comfortably returned to the Dáil.

The Malahide-based TD has been vociferous in his criticism of the Government’s housing policies, repeatedly criticising Fine Gael for failing to meet its housing targets.

Well known for his constituency work, the former area manager with Life Assurance Company was first elected to Fingal County Council in 2004 and became a TD for the constituency which was then known as Dublin North in 2007.

He lost out in 2011 when Fianna Fáil was decimated by voter anger in the recession but successfully ran for the Seanad on the Labour panel and became the party's leader in the Upper House.

He topped the poll in 2016 after five years assiduously building up his constituency base and worked to bring in a number of councillors in the local elections including his poll-topping brother.

He is married with a young family.