Main PointsWe are in the final day of the Dublin Central and Galway West byelection campaignsVoting takes place from 7am to 10pm on Friday The margins between success and failure could be wafer thin, so expect a frantic final few days on the ground, says Pat Leahy Counting starts on Saturday morning with results expected by early evening Key ReadsWhat are voters’ five big issues in Dublin Central and Galway West byelections?Four things to watch in the last week of campaigningPolymarket betting on Dublin Central byelection to be examined by officials ‘Immigration not a big issue on the doors’: Galway West win for Noel Thomas would be fresh blow to FF1 minute agoAhead of tomorrow’s votes, all Irish Times polling coverage and data, including the most pressing issues for voters, can be accessed here.22 minutes agoMinister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will be taking Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil later today, during which the detained Gaza flotilla activists are likely to arise.A video posted by Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has drawn criticism from both Israeli and international political figures.In the video, Ben-Gvir is seen walking through a ship and taunting detained activists as they knelt on the floor with their hands bound.A detained Irish activist, Caitríona Graham, is seen being restrained by soldiers and pushed back down by the head to a kneeing position after chanting: “Free, free Palestine.”McEntee described it as “utterly appalling and unacceptable behaviour”.Footage from Ashdod, Israel shows Israel's minister of national security mocking detained activists who were aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Video: Reuters More can be read on that here.The Taoiseach, meanwhile, has written to the president of the European Council calling for an EU-wide banning of products from Israeli settlements and the suspension of the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel following its “shocking treatment” of the activists.32 minutes agoIt is the final day of campaigning for Friday’s byelections in Dublin Central and Galway West.Ahead of the polls opening at 7am tomorrow, party leaders will be joining candidates for a final round of canvassing, with the exception of Taoiseach Micheál Martin.The Fianna Fáil leader will be in Paris to meet French president Emmanuel Macron.However, Irish Times polling suggest his party’s candidates in both constituencies are unlikely to challenge for a seat. In polls carried out earlier this month, Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan was leading the race in Dublin Central, followed by Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis. Veteran criminal and Independent candidate Gerry Hutch was in third place.In Galway West, Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne held a slim lead over Independent Ireland candidate Noel Thomas. Labour’s Helen Ogbu was in third place.
Final day of campaigning ahead of Dublin and Galway byelections
We are in the final few days of the Dublin Central and Galway West byelection campaigns
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