2007 Irish general election explained

Election Name:2007 Irish general election
Country:Ireland
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 Irish general election
Previous Year:2002
Previous Mps:29th Dáil
Next Election:2011 Irish general election
Next Year:2011
Seats For Election:166 seats in Dáil Éireann
Majority Seats:84
Election Date:24 May 2007
Elected Mps:30th Dáil
Leader1:Bertie Ahern
Leader Since1:19 December 1994
Party1:Fianna Fáil
Leaders Seat1:Dublin Central
Last Election1:81 seats, 41.5%
Seats1:78
Seat Change1: 3
Popular Vote1:858,565
Percentage1:41.6%
Swing1: 0.1%
Leader2:Enda Kenny
Leader Since2:2 June 2002
Party2:Fine Gael
Leaders Seat2:Mayo
Last Election2:31 seats, 22.5%
Seats2:51
Seat Change2: 20
Popular Vote2:564,428
Percentage2:27.3%
Swing2: 4.8%
Leader3:Pat Rabbitte
Leader Since3:25 October 2002
Party3:Labour Party (Ireland)
Last Election3:20 seats, 10.8%
Seats3:20
Seat Change3: 0
Popular Vote3:209,175
Percentage3:10.1%
Swing3: 0.7%
Leader4:Trevor Sargent
Leader Since4:6 October 2001
Party4:Green Party (Ireland)
Leaders Seat4:Dublin North
Last Election4:6 seats, 3.8%
Seats4:6
Seat Change4: 0
Popular Vote4:96,936
Percentage4:4.7%
Swing4: 0.9%
Leader5:Gerry Adams
Leader Since5:13 November 1983
Party5:Sinn Féin
Leaders Seat5:N/A
Last Election5:5 seats, 6.5%
Seats5:4
Seat Change5: 1
Popular Vote5:143,410
Percentage5:6.9%
Swing5: 0.4%
Leader6:Michael McDowell
Leader Since6:11 September 2006
Party6:Progressive Democrats
Leaders Seat6:Dublin South-East
(defeated)
Last Election6:8 seats, 4.0%
Seats6:2
Seat Change6: 6
Popular Vote6:56,396
Percentage6:2.7%
Swing6: 1.3%
Taoiseach
Posttitle:Taoiseach after election
Before Election:Bertie Ahern
Before Party:Fianna Fáil
After Election:Bertie Ahern
After Party:Fianna Fáil
Turnout:67.0% 4.4pp

The 2007 Irish general election took place on Thursday, 24 May after the dissolution of the 29th Dáil by the President on 30 April, at the request of the Taoiseach. The general election took place in 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of parliament, with a revision of constituencies since the last election under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005.

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.

The 30th Dáil met on 14 June to nominate a Taoiseach and ratify the ministers of the new 27th government of Ireland. It was a coalition government of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats initially supported by four Independent TDs. It was the first time the Green Party entered government.

Election date and system

On 30 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 would convene on 14 June 2007 at which stage the Taoiseach would 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 statute requires that the Dáil be dissolved within five years after its first meeting (6 June 2002) following the previous election and the election must take place not later than thirty days after the dissolution. The Taoiseach allowed the 29th Dáil to near the completion of its five-year term before seeking a dissolution. After the 2002 general election he commented that his prior confirmation of this policy had caused problems in the last year of his government. There was speculation in 2005 that he might have moved to dissolve parliament early 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 members of the 29th Dáil announced their retirement plans.

A statement by Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan in November 2006 suggested that the election would take place in May 2007, which would be the case.[1] In December 2006, Bertie Ahern stated unambiguously that the election would take place in summer 2007.[2]

There was some controversy[3] over which day of the week the election should have been held on, as some opposition parties insisted that a weekend polling day would have made it easier for those studying or working away from home to vote. Ireland's voter registration process presents difficulties for people who live at a second address for part of the week. Previous elections and referendums have been held on Thursdays, Fridays and (in one case) a Wednesday. For the 2007 election, polling day was a Thursday.

The Taoiseach denied that the election was called on Sunday 29 April 2007 to prevent the Mahon Tribunal recommencing investigations the following day concerning alleged payments to politicians (including Ahern). Because of the election campaign, the Mahon Tribunal suspended its public hearings on Monday 30 April 2007, and resumed them four days after the general election on 28 May 2007.[4]

The closing time and date for nominations was 12:00 Irish Summer Time on Wednesday 9 May 2007.

Polls were open from 07:30 until 22:30 IST. The system of voting was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).[5] 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).

Campaign

As a result of falling opinion poll ratings for the outgoing government in the months approaching the start of the campaign, the election was one of the more closely fought in decades, with the outcome being very uncertain.

This election was fought as a contest for Taoiseach between the outgoing Fianna FáilProgressive Democrats coalition and the "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 the Labour Party with the Green Party. Fine Gael and the Labour Party had an agreed transfer pact. The Green Party was non-aligned but made statements favouring a change from the outgoing Government. All parties, with the exception of the Green Party, claimed that they would not include Sinn Féin in a new Government.

Due to the run-up of the Dáil to the maximum allowable life-span, it was clear to all parties that the election would be held early summer 2007 and all parties held "conferences" during the spring to announce policies. At this time Fine Gael launched a "Contract for a Better Ireland" which was a centrepiece of their campaign. The early conferences led to the campaign being described as one of the longest in recent times. The campaign officially began at the dissolution of the Dáil. This dissolution was done early on a Sunday morning, and there was much speculation about the reason for this during the first week of the campaign. The leaking and publication, just before the election was called, of evidence about personal finance transactions in December 1994 given to the Mahon Tribunal by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern led to the first two weeks of the campaign being dominated by questions about his fitness to serve as Taoiseach, and required the Progressive Democrats to decide if they would pull out of Government before the election was held, but they decided to remain. The Tribunal itself decided to postpone sittings during the campaign.

Following a statement by the Taoiseach, the remainder of the campaign concentrated on the traditional issues of health, education, crime and the economy, with debate centring on the ability of the various parties to deliver on the various totals of hospital beds, Gardaí and pupil-teacher ratios they were promising. Prime Time hosted a debate among the potential candidates for Tánaiste and a separate debate between Ahern and Enda Kenny, coverage of which concentrated on Kenny's ability to serve as Taoiseach given his lack of experience. Finance minister Brian Cowen engaged in some robust exchanges towards the end of the campaign which was reported to have been an asset to the party.

Opinion polls during the early stages of the campaign showed the Alliance for Change gaining on the Government and the likelihood of Kenny becoming Taoiseach increased, with some commentators predicting that Fianna Fáil would return with only 65 seats. In the last week of the campaign, following the leaders debate, an Irish Times/MRBI poll showed a recovery for Fianna Fáil to 41% which was replicated on polling day.

Constituency changes

See Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 for full details of the constituencies for the 30th Dáil.

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.[6] The advice of the Attorney-General was sought by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It was decided to make no further constituency revisions before the election. Two outgoing deputies, however, challenged this decision in the High Court. The election went ahead while the parties awaited the High Court's reserved judgment in this action.[7]

Overview

The general election result was significant for a number of reasons:

The 2007 election results saw Fine Gael win seats at the expense of the smaller parties and independents. The proportion of votes only increased significantly for Fine Gael, and increased slightly for both the Green Party and Sinn Féin, despite their disappointing seat totals. Negotiations began the following week for the formation of the new government, with Bertie Ahern stating that his preferred option was for a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Progressive Democrats and like-minded independents. The Fine Gael leader and Leader of the Opposition, Enda Kenny, did not rule out forming an alternative government, stating that he would talk to all parties except Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.[10] The election for Taoiseach took place in the Dáil on 14 June 2007 with Bertie Ahern becoming Taoiseach again.

Results

PartyFianna FáilFine GaelLabour PartyGreen PartySinn FéinProgressive Democrats
LeaderBertie AhernEnda KennyPat RabbitteTrevor SargentGerry AdamsMichael McDowell
Votes41.56%, 858,56527.32%, 564,42810.13%, 209,1754.69%, 96,9366.94%, 143,4102.73%, 56,396
Seats78 (47.0%)51 (30.9%)20 (12.1%)6 (3.6%)4 (2.4%)2 (1.2%)
7862551204
Fianna FáilGreenPDsOthersFine GaelLabour PartySF

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Notes

Turnout

The electorate eligible to vote as of 24 February 2007 was 3,110,914.[12] As 2,085,245 first preference votes and invalid votes were cast, this equates to a voter turnout of 67.03%.

Government formation

On 12 June 2007, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party reached agreement on a draft Programme for Government, this was subsequently ratified by the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party and Green Party members on 13 June 2007. This resulted in the formation of a coalition government on 14 June 2007 between Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. The government was initially supported by four Independent TDs.[13]

Fianna Fáil, Green Party and Progressive Democrats formed the 27th government of Ireland, a majority coalition government, led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. Ahern would resign the following year, succeeded by Brian Cowen, who formed the 28th government of Ireland with the same party composition. The Progressive Democrats dissolved in 2009.

Dáil membership changes

The following changes took place as a result of the election:

Outgoing TDs are listed in the constituency they represented in the outgoing Dáil. For Batt O'Keeffe and possibly others, this differs from the constituency they contested in the election. O'Keeffe, who was elected in his largely new constituency of Cork North-West, is listed both as a departing TD from his old constituency of Cork South-Central and a successor TD from Cork North-West. Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only.

ConstituencyDeparting TDPartyChangeCommentSuccessor TDParty
Carlow–KilkennyLiam AylwardFianna FáilRetiredElected as an MEPBobby AylwardFianna Fáil
Séamus Pattison[14] Labour PartyRetiredMary WhiteGreen Party
Cavan–MonaghanPaudge ConnollyIndependentLost seatMargaret ConlonFianna Fáil
ClareJames BreenIndependentLost seatJoe CareyFine Gael
Síle de Valera[15] Fianna FáilRetiredTimmy DooleyFianna Fáil
Cork EastJoe SherlockLabour PartyRetiredSeán SherlockLabour Party
Cork North-CentralDan WallaceFianna FáilRetiredSeat eliminated
Cork North-WestDonal MoynihanFianna FáilLost seatBatt O'KeeffeFianna Fáil
Gerard MurphyFine GaelLost seat Fine Gael
Cork South-CentralDan BoyleGreen PartyLost seatCiarán LynchLabour Party
John DennehyFianna FáilLost seat Fine Gael
Batt O'KeeffeFianna FáilMovedRan instead in Cork NWMichael McGrathFianna Fáil
Cork South-WestDenis O'DonovanFianna FáilLost seat Fine Gael
Joe WalshFianna FáilRetiredChristy O'SullivanFianna Fáil
Donegal North-EastCecilia KeaveneyFianna FáilLost seatJoe McHughFine Gael
Donegal South-WestNo membership changes
Dublin CentralDermot FitzpatrickFianna FáilRetiredCyprian BradyFianna Fáil
Dublin Mid-WestSeat addedJoanna TuffyLabour Party
Dublin NorthJim Glennon[16] Fianna FáilRetiredMichael KennedyFianna Fáil
Seán RyanLabour PartyRetiredJames ReillyFine Gael
G. V. Wright[17] Fianna FáilRetiredDarragh O'BrienFianna Fáil
Dublin North-CentralIvor CallelyFianna FáilLost seatSeat eliminated
Dublin North-EastMartin BradyFianna FáilLost seatTerence FlanaganFine Gael
Dublin North-WestNo membership changes
Dublin SouthLiz O'DonnellProgressive DemocratsLost seat Fine Gael
Dublin South-CentralGay Mitchell[18] Fine GaelRetiredElected as an MEPCatherine ByrneFine Gael
Dublin South-EastMichael McDowellProgressive DemocratsLost seatLucinda CreightonFine Gael
Eoin RyanFianna FáilRetiredElected as an MEPChris AndrewsFianna Fáil
Dublin South-WestSeán CroweSinn FéinLost seat Fine Gael
Dublin WestJoe HigginsSocialist PartyLost seatLeo VaradkarFine Gael
Dún LaoghaireFiona O'MalleyProgressive DemocratsLost seat Fine Gael
Galway EastJoe CallananFianna FáilLost seat Fianna Fáil
Paddy McHughIndependentLost seat Fine Gael
Galway WestNo membership changes
Kerry NorthNo membership changes
Kerry SouthBreeda Moynihan-CroninLabour PartyLost seatTom SheahanFine Gael
Kildare NorthCatherine MurphyIndependentLost seatÁine BradyFianna Fáil
Seat addedMichael FitzpatrickFianna Fáil
Kildare SouthNo membership changes
Laois–OffalyTom ParlonProgressive DemocratsLost seat Fine Gael
Limerick EastTim O'MalleyProgressive DemocratsLost seatKieran O'DonnellFine Gael
Limerick WestMichael CollinsFianna FáilRetiredNiall CollinsFianna Fáil
Longford–WestmeathDonie CassidyFianna FáilLost seat Fianna Fáil
Paul McGrathFine GaelRetiredJames BannonFine Gael
Mae SextonProgressive DemocratsLost seatSeat eliminated
LouthNo membership changes
MayoJohn CartyFianna FáilLost seatDara CallearyFianna Fáil
Jerry CowleyIndependentLost seatJohn O'MahonyFine Gael
Meath EastSeat addedThomas ByrneFianna Fáil
Meath WestNo membership changes
Roscommon–South LeitrimJohn EllisFianna FáilLost seatFrank FeighanFine Gael
Sligo–North LeitrimMarian HarkinIndependentRetiredElected as an MEPEamon ScanlonFianna Fáil
Tipperary NorthMichael SmithFianna FáilLost seatNoel CoonanFine Gael
Tipperary SouthNoel Davern[19] Fianna FáilRetiredMattie McGrathFianna Fáil
Séamus HealyIndependentLost seatMartin ManserghFianna Fáil
WaterfordOllie WilkinsonFianna FáilLost seat Fianna Fáil
WexfordTony DempseyFianna FáilRetiredSeán ConnickFianna Fáil
Liam TwomeyFine GaelLost seatMichael W. D'ArcyFine Gael
WicklowMildred FoxIndependentRetiredAndrew DoyleFine Gael
Joe Jacob[20] Fianna FáilRetiredJoe BehanFianna Fáil

Seanad election

The Dáil election was followed by the election to the 23rd Seanad.

External links

Campaign:
Results:

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: 19 November 2006 . Referendum to come before election: Lenihan . . live . 20 November 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070203124415/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1119/children.html . 3 February 2007.
  2. News: 21 December 2006 . Taoiseach says election set for summer . RTÉ News . live . 21 December 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070224082509/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1221/ahernb.html . 24 February 2007.
  3. News: 2007 . Should general elections be held at weekends? . The Irish Times .
  4. News: 30 April 2007 . Ahern denies 'prior knowledge' . RTÉ News . live . 1 May 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070502030408/http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0430/mahon.html . 2 May 2007.
  5. Web site: Proportional Representation . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201073348/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional_representation . 1 December 2008 . 29 May 2007 . Irish Citizens Information Board.
  6. Web site: July 2006 . Preliminary Census report 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090324224023/http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/2006PreliminaryReport.pdf . 24 March 2009 . Central Statistics Office.
  7. Web site: 7 June 2007 . Constituencies Constitutional Challenge . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071210164657/http://www.mcgarrsolicitors.ie/2007/06/07/constituencies-constitutional-challenge-judgement-delivered/ . 10 December 2007 . 5 April 2009 . McGarr Solicitors.
  8. News: Sheahan . Fionnan . 15 May 2007 . FF in a nosedive . . live . 29 May 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070607160504/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-in-a-nosedive-670055.html . 7 June 2007.
  9. News: Kennedy . Edel . 26 May 2007 . McDowell loses and quits politics . Irish Independent . live . 13 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160222101250/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mcdowell-loses-and-quits-politics-26293264.html . 22 February 2016.
  10. News: 28 May 2007 . Ahern's preferred option is PD deal plus Independents . The Irish Times . live . 7 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009130311/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/0528/1180134002580.html . 9 October 2012.
  11. News: 19 May 2007 . Small groups seek to end large parties' dominance . The Irish Times . dead . 13 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101026154152/http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/election2007/features/features19.html . 26 October 2010.
  12. Web site: Oireachtas Electoral Handbook, p. 58 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081029193547/http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/publications/Electoral_Handbook1.pdf . 29 October 2008 . 20 September 2008 . Oireachtas Éireann.
  13. News: 14 June 2007 . Greens and PDs to make Ahern Taoiseach again . . live . 7 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009130238/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/0614/1181770989029.html . 9 October 2012.
  14. News: 22 September 2005 . Country's longest serving TD to retire from politics . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151002164238/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1472359&issue_id=13023 . 2 October 2015.
  15. News: 8 December 2006 . Sile de Valera to step down as Minister for State today . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070309154216/http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=39&si=102589 . 9 March 2007.
  16. News: 16 October 2006 . Setback for FF as Glennon quits Dáil . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210319/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1706568&issue_id=14769 . 3 March 2016.
  17. News: 17 January 2006 . Glennon poll boost as GV Wright opts out of next election . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070309124617/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=39&si=1542047&issue_id=13542 . 9 March 2007.
  18. News: 24 November 2006 . Fox & Mitchell not standing in election . RTÉ News . live . 24 November 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329033932/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1124/tds.html . 29 March 2012.
  19. News: 7 January 2006 . The four who could scupper Bertie's date with destiny . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070309172447/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=36&si=1538277&issue_id=13518 . 9 March 2007.
  20. News: 25 November 2006 . Fine Gael and Independent TDs opt out of running in next election . Irish Independent . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070309171453/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1730988&issue_id=14935 . 9 March 2007.