Lawless runs in to Dáil after years of commuting

Commuting from Kildare to Dublin every day, while paying a mortgage and rearing a family, James Lawless felt he understood much of his constituency.

The first-time TD received 7,461 first-preference votes, which secured him the second seat in the constituency of Kildare North.

Originally from Wexford, Mr Lawless lived in Dublin, before moving to Kildare, and said he understood, on a personal level, many of the issues of his constituents, such as housing and childcare.