2007 Irish general election: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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The general election result was significant for a number of reasons: |
The general election result was significant for a number of reasons: |
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[[Image:Elections who needs em 052.jpg|centre|thumbnail|340px|left|McDowell announces retirement after |
[[Image:Elections who needs em 052.jpg|centre|thumbnail|340px|left|McDowell announces retirement after his own seat loss]] |
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*The election was a success for [[Fianna Fáil]], with the party coming close to achieving an overall majority, despite predictions earlier in the campaign that it could lose between 10 and 20 seats. |
*The election was a success for [[Fianna Fáil]], with the party coming close to achieving an overall majority, despite predictions earlier in the campaign that it could lose between 10 and 20 seats. |
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*The resurgence in [[Fine Gael]] support, which saw the main opposition party increase from 31 to 51 seats. |
*The resurgence in [[Fine Gael]] support, which saw the main opposition party increase from 31 to 51 seats. |
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Revision as of 15:16, 28 May 2007
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The Irish general election of 2007 took place on 24 May, 2007 after the dissolution of the 29th Dáil by the President on 29 April, 2007, at the request of the Taoiseach. The electorate was given the task of choosing the members of the 30th Dáil who will assemble on 14 June to nominate a Taoiseach and ratify the ministers of the Government of the 30th Dáil. While Fine Gael gained 20 seats, Fianna Fáil remained the largest party. The election was considered a success for Fianna Fáil; however, Fianna Fáil's junior coalition partners in the 29th Dáil, the Progressive Democrats lost six of their eight seats.
Background
The general election took place in 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 165 of the 166 Dáil Éireann seats (the Ceann Comhairle is automatically re-elected).[1]
Election date & system
On 29 April, 2007, President Mary McAleese dissolved the 29th Dáil on the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. The election date was officially set as 24 May, 2007; the 30th Dáil will convene on 14 June, 2007 at which stage the Taoiseach will be nominated and the rest of the Government approved for appointment by the President. Official campaigning began as soon as the announcement had been made.
Current legislation requires that the Dáil be dissolved within five years after its first meeting (June 6, 2002) following the previous election and the election must take place not later than thirty days after the dissolution.[2]
The Taoiseach extended the life of the 29th Dáil close to a full five years. After the last election he commented that his prior confirmation of this policy had caused problems in the last year of his government.[3] There was speculation in 2005 that he may have moved to dissolve parliament early in order to catch the opposition off guard, although this did not transpire.
In 2005, in anticipation of the election date, the parties began candidate selections and from mid-2005 some current TDs announced their retirement plans.
A statement by Minister for Children Brian Lenihan in November 2006 suggested that the election would take place in May 2007, as was the case.[4] In December 2006, Bertie Ahern stated unambiguously that the election would take place in summer 2007.[5]
There has been some controversy[6] over which day of the week the election should be held on as some opposition parties insisted that a weekend polling day would facilitate (mainly younger) voters studying or working away for home. Ireland's voter registration process presents difficulties for people who live at a second address for part of the week. Previous elections/referenda have been held on Thursdays, Fridays and (in one case) a Wednesday. The election day was a Thursday.
The Taoiseach denies that the calling of the election was made on Sunday to prevent the Mahon Tribunal recommencing investigations the following day concerning alleged payments to politicians (including Mr Ahern). As the election campaign had commenced; the Mahon Tribunal suspended public hearings when it recommenced on Monday 30 April. It will reconvene four days after the general election. [7]
Polls were open from 07:30 until 22:30 IST. Voting was by single transferable vote.
Campaign
As a result of low opinion poll ratings for the outgoing government, the general election was one of the most bitter and closely fought in decades.
This election was fought as a contest between the outgoing Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition and an "Alliance for Change"; a proposed Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition. Opinion polls did not show either option as being certain, and other possibilities include Fianna Fáil-led coalition with other parties, or Fine Gael and Labour with the Green Party. Fine Gael and the Labour Party have an agreed transfer pact. The Green Party was non-aligned but favoured the Fine Gael–Labour Party option more.
Constituency changes
See Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland and Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 for full details of the constituencies for the 30th Dáil.
- Meath (5) was replaced by Meath East (3) and Meath West (3)
- Westmeath (3), Longford-Roscommon (4) and Sligo-Leitrim (4) were replaced by Longford-Westmeath (4), Roscommon-South Leitrim (3) and Sligo-North Leitrim (3)
- Cork North Central (from 5 to 4)
- Dublin North Central (from 4 to 3)
- Dublin Mid West (from 3 to 4)
- Kildare North (from 3 to 4)
The preliminary findings from the 2006 Census of Population disclosed that the population of Dublin West, Dublin North and Meath East could have prompted further revisions.[8] The advice of the Attorney-General was sought by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. However, no constituency revisions occurred before the election.
Candidates
The closing date for candidates to enter their names onto ballot papers in any constituency passed at 12:00 Irish Summer Time on Wednesday, May 9, by which time nominations had to have been received by the returning officer in each constituency. A list of candidates for the 2007 election is available through this link [1].
Overview
The general election result was significant for a number of reasons:
- The election was a success for Fianna Fáil, with the party coming close to achieving an overall majority, despite predictions earlier in the campaign that it could lose between 10 and 20 seats.
- The resurgence in Fine Gael support, which saw the main opposition party increase from 31 to 51 seats.
- The meltdown in Progressive Democrats support, which saw its number seats drop from 8 to 2, including the loss of its party leader, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell.
- The failure of the Labour Party to increase its seat total.
- The failure of the smaller opposition parties to increase their support:
- The Green Party returned with the same number of seats (6), one gain was offset by another loss.
- Sinn Féin lost one seat to return 4 TDs, despite predictions of gains due to the return of the power sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
- Joe Higgins, the leader and sole TD of the Socialist Party lost his seat, leaving them with no Dáil representation.
- The reduction in the number of independent (non-party) candidates, down from 14 to 5.
The 2007 election results saw gains for the two main parties at the expense of the smaller parties and independents. Negotiations are now beginning for the formation of the next government, with Bertie Ahern stating that his preferred option is for a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Progressive Democrats and like-minded independents. The Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, has not ruled out forming an alternative government, stating that he will talk to all parties except Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.[9]
Result
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†The Ceann Comhairle is a Fianna Fáil member.
Dáil membership changes
The following changes took place as a result of the election:
- 19 outgoing TDs retired.
- 146 outgoing TDs stood for re-election (plus Rory O'Hanlon - the Ceann Comhairle who was automatically returned).
- 116 of those were re-elected.
- 30 failed to be re-elected.
- 49 successor TDs were elected
- 38 were elected for the first time.
- 11 had previously been TDs (* in the list below).
- There were 8 successor female TDs, decreasing the total by 1 to 22.
Outgoing TDs are listed in the constituency they contested in the election. For some, such as Batt O'Keeffe, this differs from the constituency they represented in the outgoing Dáil. Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Article 16.5 of the Constitution of Ireland 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 fixed at five years.
- ^ Ahern likely to make major Cabinet changes
- ^ Referendum to come before election: Lenihan – RTÉ News report, 19 November, 2006.
- ^ Taoiseach says election set for summer – RTÉ News report, 21 December, 2006.
- ^ Should the election be held on Friday? – Irish Times
- ^ Ahern denies 'prior knowledge' – RTÉ News report, 30 April, 2007.]
- ^ Preliminary Census report 2006
- ^ Ahern's preferred option is PD deal plus Independents – Irish Times newspaper article, 28 May, 2007
- ^ a b c Country's longest serving TD to retire from politics – Irish Independent newspaper article, 22 September, 2005.
- ^ Sile de Valera to step down as Minister for State today – Irish Independent newspaper report, 8 December, 2006.
- ^ Setback for FF as Glennon quits Dail – Irish Independent newspaper article, 16 October, 2006.
- ^ Glennon poll boost as GV Wright opts out of next election – Irish Independent newspaper article, 17 January, 2006.
- ^ a b Fox & Mitchell not standing in election – RTÉ News article, 24 November, 2006.
- ^ The four who could scupper Bertie's date with destiny – Irish Independent newspaper article, 7 January, 2006.
- ^ Fine Gael and Independent TDs opt out of running in next election – Irish Independent newspaper article, 25 November, 2006.
See also
External links
- OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report ahead of parliamentary elections in Ireland
- List of general election candidates
- Candidates by constituency, party and gender
- RTÉ - Election 2007
- RTÉ - Exit Poll
