Fitzgerald and Kelleher set for Europe, leaving their Dáil seats to be filled

By law the Dáil vacancies must be filled within six months of being vacated, but newly-elected MEPs do not take their seats in the European Parliament until July

Billy Kelleher of Fianna Fáil is likely to be elected to the European Parliament for Ireland South Pic: John Allen
Frances Fitzgerald will take a seat in Europe for Fine Gael Pic: Fergal Phillips

The likely election of a number of TDs to the European Parliament this weekend will create vacancies in the Dáil that will need to be filled by early next year.

Former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, a Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, and Billy Kelleher, a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-Central are set to take seats in the Dublin and Ireland ...