Labour confident of taking FG seat

The Labour party has said it is confident it can take the Dáil seat left vacant this week by George Lee.

The former RTE Economics Editor romped home in the Dublin South constituency by-election last summer, beating Labour's Alex White into second place.

Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore has said he doesn't believe the Government have any appetite to go to the polls in either that constituency or Donegal North West, where another by-election is pending.

But he said, if necessary, he'll move the writs himself.

Mr Gilmore said: "I think they're going to try and avoid it - the last place Fianna Fáil want to be is in front of the electorate.

"The decision is taken by a vote of the Dáil, so if they don't move the writ reasonably soon we will certainly consider moving the writ ourselves and seek to have those two by-elections held quickly."