Election 2020 The time for talking  is nearly over!

Campaigning is at fever pitch in these final few days as candidates try to reach as many potential voters as possible before this Saturday’s General Election. Twelve candidates are in the running for three seats, and all three outgoing deputies are up for re-election, Patrick O’Donovan and Tom Neville (Fine Gael), and Niall Collins (Fianna Fáil). Also in the field are Michael Collins (FF), Claire Keating (Green Party), Séighin Ó Ceallaigh (Sinn Féin), John Dalton (Renua), Conor O’Dono-ghue (Aontú), Cristín Ní Mhaoldhomhnaigh (National Party), Richard O’Donoghue (Ind), Robert O’Donnell (Ind), and Con Cremin (Ind). Election watchers have been predicting a two Fine Gael/one Fianna Fáil return to the Dáil, like the last election, but the national opinion polls have been casting doubts on all earlier predictions, so no candidate is feeling too secure at this stage. Fianna Fáil has added Michael Collins to its ticket in the hope of grabbing a second seat, while former Fianna Fáil councillor Richard O’Donoghue is running as an Independent. Green Party candidate Claire Keating could also ruffle a few feathers; she has been very active in the Limerick Against Pollution group and has had a lot of success in this area. And Seighin O Ceallaigh will be hoping that the Sinn Féin bounce nationally will translate into a big vote for him.
The topics which candid-ates have been confronted with while canvassing include housing, healthcare, the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick, rural decline, the challenges to agriculture, commuting times, the bypass of Adare, the Foynes to Limerick road; and the M20 motor-way between Limerick and Cork.
Polling stations open at 7am on Saturday, and close at 10pm, and the counting of votes will begin on Sunday morning.
See page 34