Louth Count finally ends after three days and numerous delays

At ten to five this evening, after three long days of counting, it was finally confirmed that sitting Labour TD Ged Nash has retained his seat having exceeded the quota.

On the same count, the 20^th, it was also announced that both Fine Gael's Paula Butterly and Fianna Fail's Erin Mc Greehan have been deemed to be elected without reaching the quota. This follows the elections of Sinn Fein's Ruairí Ó Murchú and Joanna Byrne last night.

Talking to Drogheda Life after it was finally confirmed that he had been elected for his third term as a TD for Louth, Deputy Ged Nash said he was thrilled at the result.

“Labour is the only party in Louth to see our vote grow substantially in Louth since 2020. Sinn Féin are down 10% and we are up four so I’m really pleased with that especially as I had a very difficult start to the campaign having incurred a leg injury which stopped me from going out to meet all the people I would have like to.

“I want to thank everyone for their support, especially the Labour team across County Louth and East Meath, our vote has gone up  throughout the region so I am very pleased with that.

“We said from the start that when the votes are counted that we would first talk to the Social Dremocrats and other like-minded parties and individuals before we would talk to anybody else about government formation

“Labour is a serious party of Government, we want to be in Government, I want to be in government and I believe that the people who voted for me want to see me in government as well to make the necessary changes.

Labour will sit down this week with the Social Democrats and other like-minded parties and individuals to agree the possibility of broad principals and priorities before we talk to anybody else.

Turning his attention his local priorities, Deputy Nash said he would be seeking to negotiate into a programme for government a pathway to city status for big urban areas like Drogheda, declaring war on vacancy and the re-establishment of town and Borough Councils.

“Also, and I’ve said this very clearly, if I had a job that I would really like, whether that is Minister for Public Expenditure or  Minister for Enterprise, the first thing I would do is convene a high level Government task force  on jobs and investment in Drogheda to reverse the commute.”