Laois is now a constituency on its own with the breaking up of the old Laois-Offaly constituency as recommended by the constituency commission. Of all the constituencies in the country, Laois has been noted as one of the more predictable to call in the upcoming election, with only six candidates contesting the three seats. All three sitting TDs are seeking re-election.
Rural crime is a major issue in Laois, with the Dublin to Limerick M7 motorway passing through the county seen as an artery used by criminals to access the more isolated regions of the country.
Laois is home to some of the best and most productive land in the country. While there are plenty of suckler and beef farmers throughout the county, tillage and dairying are the major farm enterprises. Tillage farmers have endured three years of weak prices for grain while the plunge in dairy markets is the big worry for dairy producers as we prepare for the 2016 milking season.
Candidates can expect to hear little else from farmers other than concerns about price, price and price for the year ahead and how the State agencies can help farmers protect themselves against future market volatility.
A straightforward situation here and certainly the easiest to predict in the country. All three sitting TDs are strong favourites to get re-elected and it is difficult to see a major shock occurring. If Labour’s John Whelan could not get elected in 2011 when his party was at an all-time high in the polls, it is highly unlikely this time around.
The odds courtesy of Paddy Power
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) 1/100Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael) 1/100Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein) 1/9John Whelan (Labour) 11/4Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) 9/1Sinead Moore (Green Party) 33/1 Read more
More constituencies added through February
Full coverage: General election 2016
Laois is now a constituency on its own with the breaking up of the old Laois-Offaly constituency as recommended by the constituency commission. Of all the constituencies in the country, Laois has been noted as one of the more predictable to call in the upcoming election, with only six candidates contesting the three seats. All three sitting TDs are seeking re-election.
Rural crime is a major issue in Laois, with the Dublin to Limerick M7 motorway passing through the county seen as an artery used by criminals to access the more isolated regions of the country.
Laois is home to some of the best and most productive land in the country. While there are plenty of suckler and beef farmers throughout the county, tillage and dairying are the major farm enterprises. Tillage farmers have endured three years of weak prices for grain while the plunge in dairy markets is the big worry for dairy producers as we prepare for the 2016 milking season.
Candidates can expect to hear little else from farmers other than concerns about price, price and price for the year ahead and how the State agencies can help farmers protect themselves against future market volatility.
A straightforward situation here and certainly the easiest to predict in the country. All three sitting TDs are strong favourites to get re-elected and it is difficult to see a major shock occurring. If Labour’s John Whelan could not get elected in 2011 when his party was at an all-time high in the polls, it is highly unlikely this time around.
The odds courtesy of Paddy Power
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) 1/100Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael) 1/100Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein) 1/9John Whelan (Labour) 11/4Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) 9/1Sinead Moore (Green Party) 33/1 Read more
More constituencies added through February
Full coverage: General election 2016
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