2011 Irish general election
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The Irish general election of 2011 took place on Friday, 25 February, to elect 166 Teachtaí Dála[nb 1] across 43 constituencies to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of Ireland's national parliament, the Oireachtas. The Dáil was dissolved and the general election called by President Mary McAleese on 1 February, at the request of Taoiseach Brian Cowen.[1] The electorate was given the task of choosing the members of the 31st Dáil, who will next meet on 9 March 2011 to nominate a Taoiseach and ratify the ministers of the Government of the 31st Dáil.
Although counting is still underway, nearly all Irish and UK media outlets report that the Fianna Fáil-led government has suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state in 1921. Opposition party Fine Gael has won a record number of seats to become the largest party in the Dáil for the first time in its history, while the Irish Labour Party and Sinn Fein have also won their most seats ever. If the results hold, Fianna Fáil will be only the fourth-largest caucus in the chamber (behind Fine Gael, Labour, and independents)--the first time since the 1932 election that Fianna Fáil will not be the largest party. According to most Irish and UK media outlets, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has the inside track to becoming Taoiseach, most likely in coalition with Labour.[2][3][4]
Cowen had previously announced on 20 January that the election would be held on 11 March, and that after the 2011 budget had been passed he would seek a dissolution of the 30th Dáil by the President.[5] However, the Green Party, the junior party in coalition government with Cowen's Fianna Fáil, withdrew from government on 23 January, stating that they would support only a truncated finance bill from the opposition benches in order to force an earlier election.[6] On 24 January, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Jnr reached an agreement with the opposition in Dáil Eireann to complete all stages of passing the finance bill, in both houses of the Oireachtas, by 29 January—following which the Dáil was to be dissolved immediately.[7] Constitutionally, an election must be held within 30 days after a Dáil dissolution.[nb 2]
Following the collapse of the coalition, the now minority governing party, Fianna Fáil, sought to minimise its losses following historically low poll ratings in the wake of the 2008–2011 Irish financial crisis.[8] Fine Gael sought to gain a dominant position in Irish politics after poor results in the 2000s, and to replace Fianna Fáil for the first time since 1927 as the largest party in Dáil Éireann.[9] The Labour Party hoped to make gains from both sides, and was widely expected to become the second largest party and to enter into coalition government with Fine Gael;[10] its highest ambition at the start of the campaign, buoyed by record poll ratings in preceding months, was to form the leading partner in government for the first time in the party's 90-year history.[11] The Green Party, having been in coalition with Fianna Fáil during the Government of the 30th Dáil, faced stiff competition to retain its current seats and was expected to lose at least four of its six seats.[12] Sinn Féin were expected to make gains, encouraged by a by-election victory in November 2010 and by opinion polls which placed it ahead of Fianna Fáil. Some other left wing groups, including the Socialist Party, the People Before Profit Alliance and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group, contested the general election under a joint banner, the United Left Alliance.[13]
Background
Following the bailout of Irish banks and the deteriorating state of Irish debt that led to the Irish financial crisis, Ireland decided to take a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund amid fears of a wider European sovereign debt crisis contagion. The European Financial Stability Facility then offered Ireland a multi-billion euro offer to help alleviate its debt burden.
Such a move was widely condemned in Ireland, with The Irish Times criticising Fianna Fáil because despite its "primary aims [to] the commitment 'to maintain the status of Ireland as a sovereign State'...The Republican Party’s ideals are in tatters now."[14]
Following the acceptance of the deal on 21 November 2010, the Green Party leader, John Gormley called for a general election to be held in the second half of January 2011, however, he added that the party would support the coalition for the "coming weeks and months."[15] The Labour Party and Fine Gael called for an immediate election[16] in order to seek "political certainty."[17] On 22 November 2010, Taoiseach Brian Cowen indicated that the election would take place in early 2011 after the 2011 budgetary process has been completed[17][18] that was a prerequisite to the bailout.[19] There were fears that the election call could trigger another credit downgrade for Ireland.[20]
On 16 January, Cowen announced his decision to stay on as Taoiseach and to lead Fianna Fáil into the general election.[21] On 18 January he won a leadership challenge within the party which had been precipitated by revelations of two previously undisclosed meetings with an Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick, with a majority of the 71 Fianna Fáil deputies supporting him.[22] Foreign Minister Micheál Martin resigned despite saying he would offer Cowen "full support."[23] However, following criticism within his party following his failed attempt to carry out a reshuffle of Fianna Fáil ministers, he announced his resignation as leader of the party on 22 January. He confirmed he would remain as Taoiseach until after the election.[24]
The key dates are:
| Tuesday 1 February | Dissolution of the 30th Dáil and campaigning officially begins |
| Thursday 3 February | Last day to request a postal or special vote[25] |
| Tuesday 8 February | Last day to register to vote[26] |
| Wednesday 9 February | Last day to file nomination papers[27] |
| Thursday 24 February | Campaigning officially ends |
| Friday 25 February | Polling day |
| Saturday 26 February | Counting of votes begins |
| Wednesday 9 March | 31st Dáil assembles[27] |
Electoral system
Ireland uses proportional representation with a single transferable vote, also known as PR–STV.[28] The general election will take place in 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the state for 166 Dáil Éireann seats. Each multi-member constituency returns three, four or five Teachtaí Dála or Dáil deputies.[28] The Ceann Comhairle (Chairman) is automatically re-elected.[nb 1]
The closing date for nominations was 9 February 2011. A total of 564 candidates will be contesting the election, nearly 100 more than the 2007 general election. The number of candidates per party is: Fine Gael (104), Fianna Fáil (75), Labour Party (68), Green Party (43), Sinn Féin (41), and Independents and smaller parties (233).[29] The latter figure includes 19 candidates affiliated to the United Left Alliance, 20 independents running under the New Vision label, 8 Christian Solidarity Party candidates, 6 Workers' Party and 5 Fís Nua candidates.[30] Voting will take place between 07:00 and 22:00 (WET).[31]
Date
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Section 7 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1927 requires that the Dáil be dissolved within five years after its first meeting following the previous election (14 June 2007).[32] Article 16.3.2 of the Constitution of Ireland requires that a general election for members of Dáil Éireann must take place not later than thirty days after the dissolution. The next general election had to, therefore, take place no later than 14 July 2012.[nb 3]
The current statutory framework for the setting of a date for polling day in the general election is set out in the Electoral Act 1992 (as amended). Section 96 of the Electoral Act 1992 requires that the poll is held, not earlier than the seventeenth day or later than the twenty-fifth day, following the day on which the writs for the election are issued. The writs for the election are issued by the Clerk of the Dáil on the day the Dáil is dissolved.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin, said the general election was likely to place in mid March 2011.[33] Batt O'Keeffe, then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, hinted that the election might take place on 25 March.[34] On 19 January the Green Party indicated that they expected the budgetary process to be completed by the end of February, and that the election should be held no later than the end of March.[35] On 20 January 2011, Brian Cowen attempted a reshuffle of his party's ministers. However, following the resignation of six cabinet ministers, it became clear that the Green Party would not allow him to fill the vacancies. He subsequently announced that the election for the 31st Dáil would take place on 11 March.[5] Motions of no confidence in the outgoing government were tabled by Fine Gael for 25 January and by the Labour Party for 26 January;[36] both parties said they would be willing to give the government time to expedite the Finance Act in return for bringing forward the election date.[6] Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said it could be moved by "a week or two at most".[6] Cowen resigned as Fianna Fáil leader on 22 January,[6] and the Green Party withdrew from government the next day, but promised to support the Finance Act.[6] On 28 January it was announced that Brian Cowen intended to dissolve the Dáil on 1 February.[37]
As usual, certain offshore islands voted earlier than the rest of the country. Voters on Arranmore, Clare Island, Gola, Inishbiggle, Inishbofin (Donegal), Inishfree, Inishturk and Tory Island headed to the polls on 23 February; voters on the Aran Islands and Inishbofin (Galway) cast their ballots on 24 February.[38]
Constituency changes
The number of TDs to be elected and the number of constituencies to be contested remain the same as for the previous general election, though there are substantial boundary changes.[39][40]
- Limerick East (5) replaced by Limerick City (4)
- Limerick West (3) replaced by Limerick (3)
- Kerry North (3) replaced by Kerry North–West Limerick (3)
- Dublin West (from 3 to 4)
- Dún Laoghaire (from 5 to 4)
- Louth (from 4 to 5)
- Number of seats given in brackets after constituency name.
Boundary changes were also made in twenty other constituencies.[39]
Retiring incumbents
The following 39 members of the 30th Dáil did not contest the 2011 general election.
†Vacant seat, deputy had resigned before the dissolution of Dáil Éireann.
In four constituencies (Cavan–Monaghan, Cork North West, Dublin North West, Dublin South Central), Fianna Fáil is nominating fewer candidates than it has outgoing TDs, effectively conceding a seat in each.[78]
Campaign
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams (formerly an MP and MLA for Belfast West) announced on 15 November 2010 that he would resign both of these posts and contest the next Irish general election in order to contest the Louth constituency vacated by Arthur Morgan.[79]
A number of election candidates were given formal warnings not to place election posters until the date had been announced.[80]
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin stated that they would not rule out supporting a minority Fine Gael government if their policies were in line with Fianna Fáil's programme for economic recovery.[81] On 31 January 2011 Martin named Mary Hanafin as the new deputy leader,[82] while the government chief whip John Curran was named as justice spokesman. Barry Andrews was appointed as health spokesman, Billy Kelleher, transport, Peter Power, foreign affairs and trade and Niall Collins defence. He also appointed Willie O'Dea, a former Minister of Defence who resigned in disgrace in February 2010 over an affidavit controversy as communications spokesperson. Brian Lenihan will continue as the finance spokesman in addition to being Finance Minister.[83]
In early February, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told political parties to go ahead with the terms of the EU-IMF financial bailout plan. This came despite Fine Gael and Labour saying they would like to see a renegotiation of some of the key elements of the deal.[84]
Micheál Martin was involved in a racist gaffe mocking Chinese accent while speaking on his party's innovation proposals at the Dublin Web Summit.[85]
During the campaign, there were numerous reports of infighting between Fianna Fáil candidates Peter Power and Willie O'Dea in Limerick City,[86] Cyprian Brady and Mary Fitzpatrick in Dublin Central,[87][88] and Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews in Dún Laoghaire.[89]
New parties and groupings
A number of parties and political alliances were set up in order to contest the election.
On 25 November 2010, the United Left Alliance was set up and announced it would field twenty candidates in the election. The group consist of People Before Profit Alliance, the Socialist Party and the Tipperary South based Workers and Unemployed Action Group[13] However the group failed to get its name mentioned on the ballot.[90]
A number of public figures, including journalists Fintan O'Toole, David McWilliams, and Eamon Dunphy, discussed standing as members of a loose alliance dubbed "Democracy Now" to reform the political system and replace the IMF bailout agreement with a structured debt default.[91][92] O'Toole wrote on 29 January that, once the election date was brought forward from late March, "the risk of going off half-cocked seemed to outweigh the hope of making a difference", and the plan was abandoned.[91] The Evening Herald reported that "almost half of the 20 figures approached by Democracy Now in [late January] were unable to commit to the campaign".[92] Finian McGrath, Catherine Murphy, and Shane Ross, who are standing as independents, were also involved in the proposal.[92]
On 5 February the newly-registered party Fís Nua announced it was running six candidates in the election, three of whom were former Green Party members.[93]
Television debates
Micheál Martin proposed that a series of debates between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party should take place on RTÉ, TV3 and a debate in Irish on TG4. This proposal was accepted by the Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore.[94] On 27 January Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny proposed a five-way debate which would also include Sinn Féin and the Green Party.[95] Kenny refused to take part in any debate that would involve TV3 news broadcaster Vincent Browne. In September 2010, Browne made a comment on his show that Kenny "should go into a dark room with a gun and bottle of whiskey".[96] Browne has since apologised for the remark,[97] and said he would step aside as moderator of the TV3 three-way leaders' debate if Kenny agreed to take part.[98] Responding to TV3's offer to replace Browne as moderator, Kenny stated that a clash in his schedule meant he was unable to take part in the debate.[99]
In negotiations, TV3 proposed following the British model in which the moderator does not ask follow-up questions and does not criticise or comment on the leaders' answers. However, the right of journalist Vincent Browne to "seek factual clarification where necessary" was reserved. It was agreed Browne would sit between Micheál Martin and Eamon Gilmore, and their positions either to the right or left of him were determined by the drawing of lots. Although both Martin and Gilmore had requested that an empty chair be left to represent the absence of Kenny this was ruled out by TV3.[100]
A second debate lasting an hour took place on RTÉ on 14 February. The debate was hosted by Pat Kenny and involved leaders of the five main parties; Micheál Martin, Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley and Gerry Adams. The studio audience was 140 undecided voters, six of whom asked pre-set questions. Leaders were given 45 seconds to respond to the question with efforts made to confine contributions to 45 seconds during the "free debate".[101]
The third debate took place on TG4 in Irish, the first debate to take place in the Irish language. The fourth and final debate took place on RTÉ on 22 February.[102] The final debate was watched by an average television audience of 800,000 people.[103]
| Date | Broadcaster | Moderator | Fianna Fáil | Fine Gael | Labour | Sinn Féin | Green Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 February | TV3 | Vincent Browne | Micheál Martin | – | Eamon Gilmore | – | – |
| 14 February | RTÉ | Pat Kenny | Micheál Martin | Enda Kenny | Eamon Gilmore | Gerry Adams | John Gormley |
| 16 February | TG4 | Eimear Ní Chonaola | Micheál Martin | Enda Kenny | Eamon Gilmore | – | – |
| 22 February | RTÉ | Miriam O'Callaghan | Micheál Martin | Enda Kenny | Eamon Gilmore | – | – |
Opinion polls
The outgoing government consists of a Fianna Fáil minority administration, supported by some Independents. The Green Party supported Fianna Fáil in a coalition government until they withdrew on 23 January 2011. Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and other independents provided the opposition, which the Green Party joined upon withdrawing from government.
| Date | Source | Polling Agency | Fianna Fáil | Fine Gael | Labour Party | Green Party | Sinn Féin | Ind./Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 February 2011 | RTÉ exit poll[104] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 15.1% | 36.1% | 20.5% | 2.7% | 10.1% | 15.5% |
| 23 February 2011 | Paddy Power[105] | RED C | 16% | 40% | 18% | 3% | 10% | 14% |
| 23 February 2011 | Irish Independent[106] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 14% | 38% | 20% | 1% | 11% | 16% |
| 21 February 2011 | The Irish Times[107] | Ipsos MRBI | 16% | 37% | 19% | 2% | 11% | 15% |
| 20 February 2011 | The Sunday Business Post[108] | RED C | 16% | 39% | 17% | 2% | 12% | 14% |
| 20 February 2011 | Sunday Independent[108] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 16% | 37% | 20% | 1% | 12% | 14% |
| 17 February 2011 | Irish Daily Star[109] | OI Research | 17% | 39% | 18% | 2% | 10% | 14% |
| 16 February 2011 | Irish Independent[110] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 12% | 38% | 23% | 1% | 10% | 16% |
| 13 February 2011 | The Sunday Business Post[111] | RED C | 15% | 38% | 20% | 3% | 10% | 14% |
| 6 February 2011 | The Sunday Business Post[98] | RED C | 17% | 35% | 22% | 2% | 13% | 11% |
| 3 February 2011 | The Irish Times[112] | Ipsos MRBI | 15% | 33% | 24% | 1% | 12% | 15% |
| 2 February 2011 | Paddy Power[112] | RED C | 18% | 37% | 19% | 2% | 12% | 11% |
| 2 February 2011 | Irish Independent[113] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 16% | 30% | 24% | 1% | 13% | 15% |
| 30 January 2011 | The Sunday Business Post[114] | RED C | 16% | 33% | 21% | 2% | 13% | 15% |
| 30 January 2011 | Sunday Independent[114] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 16% | 34% | 24% | 1% | 10% | 15% |
| 7 January 2011 | Paddy Power[115] | RED C | 14% | 35% | 21% | 4% | 14% | 12% |
| 19 December 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[116] | RED C | 17% | 34% | 23% | 2% | 14% | 10% |
| 16 December 2010 | The Irish Times[117] | Ipsos MRBI | 17% | 30% | 25% | 2% | 15% | 11% |
| 3 December 2010 | The Irish Sun[118] | RED C | 13% | 32% | 24% | 3% | 16% | 11% |
| 21 November 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[119] | RED C | 17% | 33% | 27% | 3% | 11% | 8% |
| 24 October 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[120] | RED C | 18% | 32% | 27% | 4% | 9% | 10% |
| 30 September 2010 | The Irish Times[121] | Ipsos MRBI | 24% | 24% | 33% | 2% | 8% | 9% |
| 26 September 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[122] | RED C | 24% | 31% | 23% | 3% | 10% | 9% |
| 23 September 2010 | TV3 News[123] | Millward Brown Lansdowne | 22% | 30% | 35% | 2% | 4% | 8% |
| 27 June 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[124] | RED C | 24% | 33% | 27% | 2% | 8% | 6% |
| 11 June 2010 | The Irish Times[125] | Ipsos MRBI | 17% | 28% | 32% | 3% | 9% | 11% |
| 30 May 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[126] | RED C | 24% | 30% | 22% | 5% | 10% | 9% |
| 2 May 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[127] | RED C | 23% | 33% | 24% | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| 28 March 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[128] | RED C | 24% | 35% | 17% | 5% | 10% | 9% |
| 28 February 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[129] | RED C | 27% | 34% | 17% | 5% | 9% | 8% |
| 13 February 2010 | Irish Independent[130] | Millward Brown IMS | 27% | 34% | 19% | 2% | 8% | 10% |
| 31 January 2010 | The Sunday Business Post[131] | RED C | 27% | 34% | 17% | 5% | 8% | 9% |
| 22 January 2010 | The Irish Times[132] | Ipsos MRBI | 22% | 32% | 24% | 3% | 8% | 11% |
| 22 November 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[133] | RED C | 23% | 36% | 17% | 5% | 10% | 9% |
| 25 October 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[134] | RED C | 25% | 35% | 19% | 3% | 9% | 9% |
| 27 September 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 24% | 35% | 18% | 4% | 8% | 11% |
| 26 September 2009 | The Irish Times[136] | TNS-MRBI | 20% | 31% | 25% | 4% | 9% | 11% |
| 13 September 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 24% | 33% | 19% | 5% | 8% | 11% |
| 3 September 2009 | The Irish Times[137] | TNS-MRBI | 17% | 34% | 24% | 3% | 10% | 12% |
| 5 June 2009 | European election | N/A | 24.1% | 29.1% | 13.9% | 1.9% | 11.2% | 19.7% |
| 5 June 2009 | Local elections | N/A | 25.4% | 32.2% | 14.7% | 2.3% | 7.4% | 18.0% |
| 31 May 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[138] | RED C | 21% | 34% | 18% | 4% | 10% | 13% |
| 29 May 2009 | The Irish Times[139] | TNS-MRBI | 20% | 36% | 23% | 3% | 8% | 10% |
| 17 May 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[140] | RED C | 24% | 34% | 18% | 5% | 7% | 12% |
| 15 May 2009 | The Irish Times[141] | TNS-MRBI | 21% | 38% | 20% | 3% | 9% | 10% |
| 26 April 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[142] | RED C | 23% | 33% | 19% | 7% | 8% | 10% |
| 29 March 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[143] | RED C | 28% | 31% | 17% | 7% | 7% | 10% |
| 1 March 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[144] | RED C | 23% | 30% | 22% | 6% | 11% | 8% |
| 27 February 2009 | Irish Independent[145] | Millward Brown IMS | 25% | 30% | 22% | 5% | 7% | 10% |
| 13 February 2009 | The Irish Times[146] | TNS-MRBI | 22% | 32% | 24% | 4% | 9% | 9% |
| 1 February 2009 | The Sunday Business Post[147] | RED C | 28% | 33% | 14% | 8% | 9% | 8% |
| 23 November 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[148] | RED C | 30% | 35% | 14% | 5% | 8% | 8% |
| 14 November 2008 | The Irish Times[149] | TNS-MRBI | 27% | 34% | 14% | 4% | 8% | 13% |
| 26 October 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[150] | RED C | 26% | 33% | 15% | 6% | 10% | 10% (PDs 2%) |
| 21 September 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[151] | RED C | 36% | 28% | 9% | 7% | 9% | 11% (PDs 3%) |
| 27 July 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 40% | 24% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 8% (PDs 1%) |
| 22 June 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 40% | 25% | 10% | 7% | 10% | 8% (PDs 2%) |
| 7 June 2008 | The Irish Times[135] | TNS-MRBI | 42% | 23% | 15% | 5% | 8% | 7% (PDs 1%) |
| 25 May 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 38% | 29% | 10% | 8% | 7% | 8% (PDs 2%) |
| 16 May 2008 | The Irish Times[135] | TNS-MRBI | 42% | 26% | 15% | 4% | 6% | 7% (PDs 1%) |
| 27 April 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 38% | 29% | 10% | 8% | 7% | 8% (PDs 2%) |
| 30 March 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[152] | RED C | 35% | 30% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 8% (PDs 1%) |
| 2 March 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 37% | 31% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 7% (PDs 2%) |
| 27 January 2008 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 36% | 32% | 10% | 7% | 9% | 6% (PDs 2%) |
| 25 January 2008 | The Irish Times[135] | TNS-MRBI | 34% | 31% | 12% | 6% | 8% | 9% (PDs 3%) |
| 25 November 2007 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 32% | 31% | 13% | 9% | 7% | 9% (PDs 2%) |
| 2 November 2007 | The Irish Times[135] | TNS-MRBI | 33% | 31% | 15% | 5% | 7% | 9% (PDs 2%) |
| 28 October 2007 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 39% | 27% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 9% (PDs 2%) |
| 23 September 2007 | The Sunday Business Post[135] | RED C | 40% | 27% | 11% | 7% | 6% | 9% (PDs 3%) |
| 24 May 2007 | General election | N/A | 41.5% | 27.3% | 10.1% | 4.7% | 6.9% | 9.4% (PDs 2.7%) |
Result
Template:Irish general election, 2011
Fianna Fail
Fianna Fáil suffered its worst performance since its formation in 1926, as well as the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state. The party suffered a complete meltdown in Dublin, losing all but one of its 14 seats in the capital. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan retained his Dublin West seat, albeit narrowly. The party also lost numerous seats that it had held for its entire existence. The most high profile casualty was Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, who lost the seat she had held in Donegal South West since 1983. Other cabinet ministers who lost their seats included Pat Carey, Mary Hanafin, Martin Mansergh and Conor Lenihan.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is headed for the highest seat count in its 78-year history. The party has never won more than 70 seats in an election, but most outlets agree that the party will easily top that figure.
Labour Party
Labour made a very strong showing, more than doubling its share of the vote, and appears on track to be the second-largest party in the Dáil, its best showing ever.[2][3][4]
Sinn Fein
Sinn Féin succeeded in having all its sitting TDs returned and managed to regain the seat in Dublin South West it had lost in 2007. The party won long time targeted seats in constituencies such as Dublin North West and Meath West as well as taking largely unexpected seats such as Cork East and Sligo-North Leitrim.
Green Party
The Green Party had its parliamentary representation wiped out as it lost all the six seats it had previously held. [153] As it polled less than 2% of the first preference vote it also lost its entitlement to public funding.
Notes
- ^ a b c Article 16.6 of the constitution requires that "provision shall be made by law" such that the Ceann Comhairle "be deemed without any actual election to be elected a member of Dáil Éireann". The current law making such provision is the Electoral Act, 1992.
- ^ Constitution of Ireland, Article 16.3.2°
- ^ Article 16.5 of the constitution states that the Dáil may sit for a period of up to seven years from its first meeting. It also allows a shorter period to be fixed by law, this is currently five years.
References
- ^ "Election date confirmed as February 25". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|sate=ignored (help) - ^ a b Irish election: Enda Kenny claims opposition victory. BBC News, 26 February 2011
- ^ a b Fine Gael poised to lead next government as FF collapses. The Irish Times, 27 February 2011
- ^ a b McDonald, Henry. Fianna Fáil trounced as Fine Gael and Labour set to form coalition. The Guardian, 27 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach". Dáil Éireann Debate. Oireachtas. 20 January 2011. pp. Vol. 726 No. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Greens to consider next move". RTÉ News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011. Cite error: The named reference "rte20110123" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Election due after deal struck". Irish Independent. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- ^ "The silver lining in the cloud over Fianna Fáil". Belfast Telegraph. 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Fianna Fáil must seek to return to ethical purity". The Mayo News. 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Factbox - Irish Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore". Reuters. 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Gilmore can succeed with perception and perseverance". The Sunday Business Post. 9 January 2011.
- ^ "Where the battles will be won and lost". The Sunday Business Post. 30 January 2011.
- ^ a b "New 'United Left Alliance' formed". RTÉ News. 25 November 2010.
- ^ "Was it for this?". The Irish Times. 18 November 2010.
- ^ "Green Party calls for election date to be set". RTÉ News. 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Ireland bail-out: Calls for election intensify". BBC News. 22 November 2010.
- ^ a b "Irish election set for early 2011". Aljazeera. 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Election to take place after the Budget". RTÉ News. 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Cowen Relies on Sugar Daddy to Gain Support for Irish Budget: Euro Credit". Bloomberg L.P. 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Irish Aid Bid Forces Cowen to Call Election, May Prompt Moody's Downgrade". Bloomberg L.P. 22 November 2010.
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External links
- Retirements and Candidates for 31st Dáil (ElectionsIreland.org)
- RTÉ News – Election 2011
- The Irish Times – Election 2011
- IrishPoliticians.com – Candidates by constituency, party and gender
Manifestos
- Fianna Fáil: Real Plan Better Future
- Fine Gael: Let’s Get Ireland Working
- Green Party: Renewing Ireland
- Labour Party: One Ireland - Jobs, Reform, Fairness
- Sinn Féin: There Is A Better Way
