With the exit of Phil Hogan to Brussels, Carlow-Kilkenny is the 5th by-election since the general election 2011. By-elections take place when a member of the Dail (TD) vacates their seat. In this instance the seat was left vacant by the promotion of the Environment Minister to an EU commissioner. There are 9 candidates in the running for the seat. 3 women and 6 men. Bobby Aylward, Fianna Fáil, David Fitzgeral, Fine Gael, Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin, Breda Gardner, Independent, Patrick McKee, Renua Ireland, Conor MacLiam, Anti-Austerity Alliance, Malcolm Noonan, Green Party, Willie Quinn, Labour Party and Adrienne Wallace, People Before Profit.