Social Democrats (Ireland)
Social Democrats Daonlathaigh Shóisialta | |
|---|---|
| File:Social Democrats (Ireland) Logo.png | |
| Leaders | Stephen Donnelly, TD Catherine Murphy, TD Róisín Shortall, TD |
| Founded | 15 July 2015 |
| Ideology | Social democracy[1] |
| Political position | Centre-left[2] |
| Colours | Purple |
| Dáil Éireann | 3 / 158
|
| Seanad Éireann | 0 / 60
|
| Local government | 4 / 949
|
| Website | |
| www | |
_Logo.png){kind=link}
The Social Democrats (Irish: Daonlathaigh Shóisialta[3]) is a political party in Ireland. The party was launched on 15 July 2015 by three independent TDs, Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall.
History
Since its establishment, Social Democrats has maintained a co-leadership arrangement between its three founding members. Shortall is a former Labour Party TD and former Minister of State for Primary Care. She resigned from the role and party in September 2012 due to the actions of then Minister for Health James Reilly citing lack of support and the lack of an explanation from Reilly as to his decision to locate a primary care centre in his own constituency.[4] Murphy was successively a member of the Workers' Party, Democratic Left and the Labour Party before being elected as an independent TD in 2005. During the course of the 31st Dáil, she came to prominent national attention owing to her revelation of irregularities in the dealings of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and businessman Denis O'Brien. Donnelly first entered politics as an independent TD in the 2011 general election having previously worked as a consultant for McKinsey and Company.
Both Murphy and Donnelly were members of the Technical Group in the 31st Dáil, with Murphy having served as its Chief Whip.
The party ran fourteen candidates in the 2016 General Election including its three incumbent TDs, ex-Labour Party Senator James Heffernan, and County Councillors Gary Gannon and Cian O'Callaghan.[5]
Its other public representatives include Jennifer Whitmore of Wicklow County Council.[6]
Ideology
At the party's founding its three TDs stated their support for the Nordic model of social democracy, backed the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and Official Secrets Act, and stated their opposition to domestic water charges.[7][8][9]
Their manifesto was launched in January 2016, and lists commitments to "three core areas":
- Policies that support a healthy, inclusive and progressive society.
- Policies that ensure a strong, stable and vibrant economy, and support Ireland’s SMEs with the same vigour that’s applied to the multinational sector
- Policies that make politics and government more transparent and responsive to public, rather than party need.[10]
Election results
Dáil Éireann elections
| Election | Seats won | ± | Position | First Pref votes | % | Government | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 / 158
|
 3
|
7th
|
64,094 | 3.0% | Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall |
2016 general election candidates
In February 2016 the party announced that they would be running candidates in fourteen constituencies in the 2016 general election.[11] They received 3% of first preference votes nationally with all three of its leaders re-elected on the first count.[12]
Denotes candidates elected to Dáil Éireann
| Constituency | Candidate | % Votes | Notes [13] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork East | Ken Curtin | 2.6 | |
| Dublin Bay North | Cian O’Callaghan | 5.2 | Fingal County Councillor, originally elected as Labour Party |
| Dublin Bay South | Glenna Lynch | 6.7 | |
| Dublin Central | Gary Gannon | 9.7 | Dublin City Councillor, originally elected as Independent |
| Dublin Mid–West | Anne-Marie McNally | 6.1 | |
| Dublin North–West | Róisín Shortall | 28.5 | TD, originally elected as Labour Party |
| Dublin South–Central | Liam Coyne | 5.7 | |
| Galway West | Niall Ó Tuathail | 5.38 | |
| Kildare North | Catherine Murphy | 22.7 | TD, originally elected as Independent |
| Limerick City | Sarah Jane Hennelly | 5.9 | |
| Limerick County | James Heffernan | 7.4 | Senator, originally elected as Labour Party |
| Meath East | Aisling O’Neill | 4.1 | |
| Wexford | Leonard Kelly | 2.3 | |
| Wicklow | Stephen Donnelly | 20.9 | TD, originally elected as Independent |
References
- ^ Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
- ^ "Social Democrats latest new Irish party ahead of uncertain elections". Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Lucht na heite clé radacaí chun tosaigh ar Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre den chéad uair, Tuairisc.ie (in Irish)
- ^ "Roisin Shortall resigns as junior health minister". RTÉ News. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Social Democrats reveal five election candidates". BreakingNews.ie. 4 August 2015.
- ^ Wicklow Broadband Speeds Below Par, Stephendonnelly.ie, 7 October 2015
- ^ "Newly-formed Social Democrats pledge to abolish water charges". RTÉ News. 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Ireland's newest political party will abolish water charges and repeal the 8th". TheJournal.ie. 15 July 2015.
- ^ "New Social Democrats group pledge to abolish water charges and repeal the Eighth Amendment". Irish Independent. 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Policies". Social Democrats website. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Social Democrats offer a 'relatively mainstream alternative', Irish Times, 3 February 2016
- ^ Election 2016, RTÉ News, 4th March 2016
- ^ Our People, Socialdemocrats.ie