The Labour Party has selected a sitting county councillor, Mr Paddy MacNamara, to contest the forthcoming Kildare North by-election.
The seat was vacated by former Minister for Finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy, who resigned his seat to become Ireland's new EU Commissioner.
Mr MacNamara, who topped the poll in the Naas electoral area at the recent local government elections, was selected at a party convention in Kill tonight.
The party Chief Whip and Kildare North TD, Mr Emmet Stagg, has been appointed as Director of Elections for the by-election.
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The by-election will be held early next year. A vote in Meath is expected to be held on the same day to select a successor to Mr John Bruton, who has taken up his EU post in Washington.