FF and FG hold their seats in Meath

It's a case of as you were in Meath as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael held their respective seats.

It's a case of as you were in Meath as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael held their respective seats.

As expected, Mr Noel Dempsey - who introduced the electronic voting mechanisms used in his constituency - topping the poll, with party colleagues, Ms Mary Wallace and Mr Johnny Brady joining him in the 29th Dail.

Fianna Fail claimed 44.9 per cent of the vote a rise of some 3 per cent.

However, Fine Gael will be delighted to return two seats from this constituency, a feat which is the more remarkable given that the overall share of the party vote dropped by nearly 9.7 per cent to 27.2 per cent. Former party leader Mr John Bruton will be joined by Mr Damian English in the next Dail.

READ MORE

The turnout in Meath was reported to be 59 per cent with 64,081 votes cast. The quota was 10,681.

On hearing of his election, Mr Dempsey thanked his organisation and also the people of Meath for returning three Fianna Fáil candidates.