2014 Dublin South-West by-election explained
| Country: | Ireland |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Year: | 2011 general election |
| Election Date: | 10 October 2014 |
| Next Year: | 2016 general election |
| 2Blank: | Percentage |
| 3Blank: | Final count |
| Nominee1: | Paul Murphy |
| Party1: | Anti-Austerity Alliance |
| 1Data1: | 6,540 |
| 2Data1: | 27.2 |
| 3Data1: | 9,565 |
| Nominee2: | Cathal King |
| Party2: | Sinn Féin |
| 1Data2: | 7,288 |
| 2Data2: | 30.3 |
| 3Data2: | 8,999 |
| Image3: | Keane |
| Nominee3: | Cáit Keane |
| Party3: | Fine Gael |
| 1Data3: | 2,110 |
| 2Data3: | 8.8 |
| 3Data3: | – |
| Image4: | McMahon |
| Nominee4: | Ronan McMahon |
| Party4: | Independent politician |
| 1Data4: | 2,142 |
| 2Data4: | 8.9 |
| 3Data4: | – |
| Image5: | Kearns |
| Nominee5: | Pamela Kearns |
| Party5: | Labour Party (Ireland) |
| 1Data5: | 2,043 |
| 2Data5: | 8.5 |
| 3Data5: | – |
| Nominee6: | John Lahart |
| Party6: | Fianna Fáil |
| 1Data6: | 2,077 |
| 2Data6: | 8.6 |
| 3Data6: | – |
| Image7: | Burke |
| Nominee7: | Declan Burke |
| Party7: | Independent politician |
| 1Data7: | 681 |
| 2Data7: | 2.8 |
| 3Data7: | – |
| Image8: | Coules |
| Nominee8: | Nicky Coules |
| Party8: | People Before Profit |
| 1Data8: | 530 |
| 2Data8: | 2.2 |
| 3Data8: | – |
| Nominee9: | Francis Noel Duffy |
| Party9: | Green Party (Ireland) |
| 1Data9: | 447 |
| 2Data9: | 1.9 |
| 3Data9: | – |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| TD |
| Before Election: | Brian Hayes |
| Before Party: | Fine Gael |
| After Election: | Paul Murphy |
| After Party: | Anti-Austerity Alliance |
A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Dublin South-West constituency in Ireland on Friday, 10 October 2014,[1] following the election of Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Brian Hayes to the European Parliament.[2]
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[3] The Roscommon–South Leitrim by-election was held on the same date.
Paul Murphy of the Anti-Austerity Alliance was elected on the eighth count.[4] Murphy's victory came as a surprise as Sinn Féin had performed extremely well in local elections the previous May, winning 50.3% of the first preference vote in the Tallaght South LEA and 32% in the Tallaght Central LEA,[5] [6] and were widely predicted to win the seat.[7] [8] [9] Murphy largely campaigned on the issue of Irish Water, stating that Sinn Féin could not be trusted to oppose water charges. In the wake of a poor local election result, Labour and Fine Gael were not considered contenders for the seat while Fianna Fáil largely focused its resources on the Roscommon–South Leitrim by-election.[10]
Murphy's victory brought the issue of water charges to the forefront of political debate in the run-up to the 2016 general election, and contributed to a shift in Sinn Féin's position to one of outright opposition.[11]
See also
Notes and References
- News: Two byelections 'to be held on October 10th'. The Irish Times. 29 August 2014. 20 February 2020. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025547/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/two-byelections-to-be-held-on-october-10th-1.1911845. live.
- News: Ní Riada elected, counts suspended in Midlands North West and South. RTÉ News. 27 May 2014. 1 June 2014. 1 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140601214139/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0526/619616-european-election/. live.
- Web site: Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011. Irish Statute Book. 1 June 2014. 9 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141009165339/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0014/sec0002.html. live.
- News: Paul Murphy elected in Dublin South-West by-election. RTÉ News. 11 October 2014. 11 October 2014. 13 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141013005856/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1011/651577-by-elections/. live.
- Web site: ElectionsIreland.org: 2014 Local - Tallaght Central First Preference Votes . 2014-12-23 . 2014-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223025443/https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=211 . live .
- Web site: ElectionsIreland.org: 2014 Local - Tallaght South First Preference Votes . 2014-12-23 . 2014-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223022639/https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=212 . live .
- Web site: Surprise results in both by-elections - RTÉ News . . 11 October 2014 . 2014-10-11 . 2014-10-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141013005856/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1011/651577-by-elections/ . live .
- News: Paul Murphy trumps Sinn Féin's Cathal King in Dublin South West . . 2020-02-20 . 2018-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116031355/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/paul-murphy-trumps-sinn-f%C3%A9in-s-cathal-king-in-dublin-south-west-1.1960624 . live .
- News: Dublin South West is SF's to lose despite left-wing competition . . 2020-02-20 . 2014-12-23 . https://archive.today/20141223001722/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-south-west-is-sf-s-to-lose-despite-left-wing-competition-1.1957681 . live .
- Web site: 'Shock' in Fianna Fáil as failed by-election candidate says Martin should go . 2014-12-23 . 2014-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223023757/http://www.thejournal.ie/fianna-fail-ivan-connaughton-1848983-Dec2014/ . live .
- News: Water charges vital to tax base and to supporting those on low incomes. Howlin. Gerard. 27 April 2016. Irish Examiner. 27 April 2016. 28 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160428093052/http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/gerard-howlin/water-charges-vital-to-tax-base-and-to-supporting-those-on-low-incomes-395170.html. live.
