Constituency Profile:
This is a relatively new three-seat constituency arising from the splitting of the old five-seat Meath constituency into two three- seaters before the 2007 General Election.
The constituency of Meath West comprises the western part of Co Meath, including the towns of Navan and Trim and the former Delvin Rural District in Westmeath.
A population of 6,776 in the Kells area has been transferred out to Meath East.
The 2006 census data for the constituency taking account of these boundary changes shows a population of 76,393, indicating very strong growth in the early years of the last decade.
The census also indicated that in 2006 people in Meath West were significantly more likely to work in the construction sector than was the case nationally and the constituency is suffering the effects of the downturn in that industry.
Agriculture is no longer as vital to the local economy as previously, though it is still an important presence.
While many constituents commute to different parts of Dublin for work, there are also several major local employers, although one of the most important - Tara Mines at Navan – has had ongoing problems that led to several hundred workers being put on protective notice in late 2008.
Constituency Boundaries: There has been a major boundary change to this constituency since 2007. (See above)
Seats: Three
2007 Quota: 10,117
2011 Candidates
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Stephen Ball - Independent
Contesting his first Dáil election, Ball ran unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate in the 2009 local election.
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Johnny Brady - Fianna Fáil
First elected to the old Meath constituency in 1997, Brady was re-elected in 2002 and again in 2007.
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Ray Butler - Fine Gael
Trim-based, Butler was added to the Fine Gael ticket by the party's National Executive following the selection convention. He topped the poll in the 2009 local election for the Trim electoral area.
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Ronan Carolan - Independent
An economic advisor, Carolan is based in the Navan area.
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Shane Cassells - Fianna Fáil
Despite running in a 2005 by-election in the old Meath constituency, this is Cassell's first-time to contest a general election. His selection as a candidate came after the decision of Noel Dempsey to retire.
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Damien English - Fine Gael
The youngest member of the 29th Dáil following his election to the old Meath constituency in 2002. Re-elected in 2007, he supported Richard Bruton in the June 2010 leadership heave.
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Fiona Irwin - Green Party
An advocate of an improved public transport network for Meath and tax incentives for renewable energy, Irwin is a first-time candidate.
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Manus McMenamin - Christian Solidarity Party
A member of the group COIR which opposed the Lisbon Treaty, McMenamin is contesting his second general election.
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Seamus McDonagh - Workers Party
A life-long member of the Workers' Party, McDonagh is contesting his second general election. He previously ran for a Dáil seat in 1987.
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Jenny McHugh - Labour Party
A Navan-based Councillor and school principal, McHugh is a first-time Dáil candidate.
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Daithí Stephens - Independent
A farmer from Dunderry, 59 year old Stephens is a first-time Dáil candidate.
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Peadar Toibín - Sinn Féin
A member of Navan Town Council since 2004, Toibín is a first-time Dáil candidate. He is the Deputy Mayor of Navan.
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Catherine Yore - Fine Gael
Kells-based Yore is contesting her first general election. 26 years old and a teacher by profession, she previously reached the final stages of RTE's 'You're a Star' competition.
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Sitting TDs: Noel Dempsey (FF), Johnny Brady (FF), Damien English (FG)
TDs not seeking re-election: Noel Dempsey (FF)
General Election 2007:
The sitting TDs from the old Meath constituency who were seeking re-election in the new Meath West constituency in 2007 were Fianna Fáil’s Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady, and Fine Gael’s Damien English. All three were tipped to retain their seats.
Fianna Fáil achieved a massive 51.6% of the vote in Meath West in 2007.
Minister Noel Dempsey topped the poll, getting elected on the first count with 12,006 first preference votes. Athboy-based Johnny Brady of Fianna Fáil was elected on the second count on Mr Dempsey’s surplus.
Fine Gael seemed certain to get one seat at least, having taken 29% of the vote between its three candidates. The party’s sitting TD, Damien English, had worked hard to secure the seat he won in a surprise result in 2002 and comfortably secured the third seat on the seventh count, having polled 7,227 first preference votes.
He ended up almost 7,000 votes ahead of Sinn Féin’s Joe Reilly at the final count. Labour’s Brian Collins took just 4% of the vote.
2007 Turnout: 72.6% (Constituency created just before the 2007 General Election, formed from the western part of the old Meath five-seat constituency and part of Westmeath).
Oireachtas Constituency Information
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