Next Thursday, on July 8th, voters in Dublin Bay South will cast their votes in a byelection widely seen as the first major electoral test for the coalition Government.
While known for being one of the most affluent constituencies in the country, and with a reputation as a Fine Gael stronghold, Dublin Bay South is also one of the most liberal constituencies in the State.
The area stretching from Poolbeg to Harold's Cross and Terenure is home to some of the richest people in the country. However, it also contains big working-class areas such as Ringsend and Pearse Street.
Voters will choose from 15 candidates to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy.
Attempts have been made in recent weeks to frame the vote as a contest between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.
Fine Gael's James Geoghegan is currently in the lead based on the latest Ipsos/MRBI poll results. However, polling carried out over the weekend also shows Labour's Ivana Bacik may still be a position to take the seat.
As Dublin Bay South currently has no female representative in Dáil Éireann, could this be Bacik’s chance to finally claim a spot in Government?
On Tuesday's In the News podcast, Sorcha Pollak talks to The Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy about the race for the Dublin Bay South seat, the main issues dominating the debate and the national significance of next week's vote.
In The News is hosted by reporters Conor Pope and Sorcha Pollak.
You can listen to the podcast: