The writs for the two byelections in Dublin Central and Galway West have been moved in the Dáil to allow them take place on Friday, May 22nd in a four-week campaign.

Fine Gael TD and Assistant Government Chief Whip Emer Currie moved the writ for the Dublin Central election for a successor to former Fine Gael minister for finance Paschal Donohoe.

People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett moved the writ for the Galway West constituency, to fill the vacancy following the election of former Independent TD Catherine Connolly as President.

He told the House: “I move. Get the posters up.”

The writs were moved on Wednesday, which was earlier than expected as Dáil business finished ahead of schedule.

Minister for Local Government James Browne signed the official order on Thursday.

Candidates for Galway West include:

Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne;Sinn Féin’s Mark Lohan; Independent Sheila Garrity – representing the group that campaigned for Catherine Connolly; Independent Ireland’s Noel Thomas;Thomas Welby (Independent);Mike Cubbard (Independent);Fianna Fáil’s Cillian Keane; Labour’s Helen Ogbu; Aontú’s Orla Nugent ; The Green Party’s Niall Murphy; Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich of the Social Democrats; PBP’s Denman Rooke

In Dublin Central, candidates include:

Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan;Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam (currently Lord Mayor of Dublin); Fianna Fáil’s John Stephens; Malachy Steenson (Independent);Colm Flood (Independent); Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats;The Green Party’s Janet Horner; PBP’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin; Labour’s Ruth O’Dea; Aontú’s Ian Noel Smyth;Gerry Hutch, the gangland figure known as the Monk, who narrowly failed to win a seat at the general election.

The Department of Housing has confirmed that voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on May 22nd.

Any candidates intending to stand in either by-election will now have until a deadline of noon on Friday, May 1st to submit their nomination. According to the Department of Housing, candidates have until noon on Saturday May 2nd to withdraw their nominations if they wish.

More than 57,000 estimated voters in Dublin Central and 103,000 in Galway West will be eligible to vote in the by-elections. Anyone who is not yet registered to vote and wishes to add their name to the register has until Tuesday, May 5th.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission, said the “quickest and easiest way to register to vote or to update your details” is via the website checktheregister.ie.

Chief executive of the commission Art O’Leary said: “now that we have an official date for the byelections, the people of Dublin Central and Galway West can start thinking in earnest about who they want as their new TDs in the Dáil.

“The clock is ticking to get yourself registered to vote if you’re a first-time voter, or to update your voting details if you’ve moved house, returned to Ireland from abroad or recently became an Irish citizen.

“Through these two byelections as Ireland’s independent electoral commission we will be working to give people access to clear and impartial information about what byelections are, voter registration and how to cast their vote.

“Your vote is your voice, so my appeal to people across Dublin Central and Galway West is to make sure that your voice is heard.”

In the Dáil, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy warned TDs not to canvass in the Dáil for their byelection candidates. They could raise policy matters in their constituencies.

However, the “should not name candidates or bring them into their debates, either by way of praise or criticism,” she said. “Contributions should relate strictly to the business before the House,” and she called for “all of your co-operation during the period ahead”.