The government has officially called the by-elections to fill two empty seats in the Dáil.

The writs to fill the seats in Dublin South-West and Roscommon South-Leitrim were moved in the last hour.

The two elections will take place on Friday October 10th.

They will fill the seats left behind by Brian Hayes and Luke 'Ming' Flanagan when they were elected as MEPs.

A separate by-election in Carlow-Kilkenny, to replace the new EU commissioner Phil Hogan, is not expected until the new year.