Fine Gael has opened the nomination process to select its candidate for the Galway West by-election.
Nominations will remain open until next Thursday February 12th, and the selection convention will take place in Salthill in just over a fortnight's time - on Sunday February 22nd.
The party's Executive Council agreed the process last night, following six meetings with members and supporters across Galway since the start of the year.
To be a candidate, a person needs to be nominated by any two Galway West Fine Gael members.
At the convention, Fine Gael members in compliance with the two-year rule will vote to select the party’s candidate for Galway West.
Party leader Tánaiste Simon Harris has appointed the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke as the Director of Election for the Galway West by-election.
All nominated candidates proceed to a selection convention, where all members with membership for the past two membership years will have a vote.
So far, six candidates have been selected to contest the by-election - they are Independent Ireland Cllr Noel Thomas, Independent Cllr Tom Welby, Niall Murphy of the Green Party, Independent Sheila Garrity from Knocknacarra, Labour City Cllr Helen Ogbu and most recently, Míde Nic Fhionnnlaoich from Connemara.
