'Transfers will be crucial to the outcome' says FG Senator

Fine Gael Senator Joe O'Reilly says, with just over half of the boxes opened and votes tallied, that it remains “too close to call”, but still expects a tight race for the fifth and final seat.

“I think it is and I think its too close to call at this stage. A number of people are potentially in the mix,” said the party stalwart and former TD.

Fine Gael ran a three candidate strategy in the wake of Deputy Leader of Fine Gael and former Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announcing she was to retire. In her place the grassroots members nominated current Cavan Cathaoirleach and former 2020 General Election candidate TP O'Reilly and Monaghan's David Maxwell, with the party HQ adding Cllr Carmel Brady after that.

Of the three Maxwell is out in front, but Sen O'Reilly says: “Our candidates are reasonably closely bunched at the minute. We need a complete tally to really begin to speculate, and then transfers will be crucial to the outcome.”