THE GOVERNMENT has this afternoon confirmed that the by-election for the vacant Dáil seat in Dublin West will be held on October 27, the same date as the presidential election.

The announcement was made by Taoiseach Enda Kenny this afternoon, and confirmed by a government spokesman.

The vacancy was caused by the death of former Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan in June – who was the only Fianna Fáil TD in all of Dublin to retain his seat in February’s general election.

The Lenihan family has already confirmed that it will not be putting forward a candidate for the election, with Lenihan’s son Tom unwilling to be considered, and with his brother Conor having moved abroad for work.

Arrangements for voting registers and other procedural issues will be confirmed when the Dáil formally moves the writ to fill the seat after it reconvenes next week.

This by-election is the last to be held before new laws, which will require by-elections to be held within six months of a vacancy arising, take effect.

The government will also hold a referendum on cutting judges’ pay on the same day, and intends to hold another referendum overturning the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Abbeylara case, allowing Oireachtas committees to conduct inquiries and make findings of fact, on October 27.