Labour name McNamara as Kildare candidate

The Labour party will be running local Naas councillor Paddy McNamara as its candidate in the North Kildare by-election.

The Progressive Democrats are the only other party to declare a candidate so far - Senator Kate Walsh – for the three-seater constituency.

The by-election was caused by the departure of outgoing Finance Minster Charlie McCreevy to Europe as Internal Market Commissioner.

Mr McNamara, aged 39, who topped the poll in the local elections in June, is also being supported by party colleagues John McGinley and Kevin Byrne, both councillors.

The by-election is expected to take place in early 2005, possibly on the same day as a contest in Meath caused by the departure of former Taoiseach John Bruton to Washington as EU ambassador.