'A real political force in Ireland' - Holly Cairns says Social Democrats eye nationwide gains after by-election win

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns welcomed newly elected TD Daniel Ennis to the Dáil after his Dublin Central by-election victory. Ennis entered the Dáil for his first day after receiving 19.7% of first preference votes and defeating the Sinn Féin candidate. Cairns said the party is “over the moon” and described the result as a major achievement, thanking voters for the mandate and saying Ennis will work to keep their trust. Ennis said he wants to “fight” and continue hard work to improve life in the city and country. Questions arose during the campaign about Ennis’ previous employment at a company fined for cigarette products lacking Irish tax stamps.

"Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns says the party are now “a real political force in Ireland” as she welcomed new TD Daniel Ennis to the Dáil. Ms Cairns has said her party will run a candidate in every constituency in the next election after their success in securing a seat in the by-election. The victor of the Dublin Central by-election, Daniel Ennis arrived for his first day in the Dáil today after getting 19.7pc of the first preference vote in the area and beating the Sinn Féin candidate to the seat."

"Speaking outside the gates of Leinster House this morning as she welcomed him to the Dáil for his first day, Ms Cairns said the party is “over the moon” with the result. Ennis was by his fiancée Chloe Minnock-Feely in the Dáil today, Ms Cairns said the day was just as much for his friends, family and supporters. “It’s a huge achievement for anyone to do this to represent your constituents who've given you such a strong mandate, so we're enormously grateful to everybody in Dublin Central for giving us behind this opportunity as well. I know he'll work extremely hard to keep their trust.”"

"Speaking to reporters Ennis said he wants to “fight and fight and fight and continue the hard work that we've been doing, myself and Gary [Gannon] just to make this city and this country a better place to live for all.” During the campaign, questions emerged about Mr Ennis' own previous employment, as it emerged he worked for a company that was fined for having cigarette products that did not carry an Irish tax stamp. Anthony Walsh (66) of Woodstown Hill, Woodstown Village, Dublin 16, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an offence that he kept, for sale or delivery, the cigarettes and tobacco without the relevant tax stamps in Breathnach's Bargains Newsagent, St Dominics Shopping Centre, Tallaght, Dublin."

Read at Irish Independent