Dublin West a litmus test for parties

In search of a constituency to explain the myriad of issues currently affecting political parties? Then look no further than Dublin West’s by-election.

Fresh from a slew of difficult opinion polls, Labour is seeking to replace a one-time party TD who became an Independent after refusing to back government policy with an internal candidate unlikely to rock the already rocking boat;

A celebrity politician has been parachuted in for Fine Gael to help sell the government line as it pushes through unpopular policies.