1994 Dublin South-Central by-election

1994 Dublin South-Central by-election
9 June 1994
Turnout(43.0%)
 
Eric Byrne 2010 (cropped).jpg
Mulcahy
Minister Brian Hayes at Sneem River.JPG
Nominee Eric Byrne Michael Mulcahy Brian Hayes
Party Democratic Left Fianna Fáil Fine Gael
First preferences 7,445 5,642 4,637
Percentage 27.8% 21.1% 17.3%
Final count 12,741 8,629 –
TD before election

John O'Connell
Fianna Fáil

Elected TD

Eric Byrne
Democratic Left

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Dublin South-Central constituency in Ireland on 9 June 1994. It followed the resignation on 24 February 1993 on health grounds of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) and former Minister for Health John O'Connell.

The election was won by Dublin City Councillor and former TD Eric Byrne. This was the first time Democratic Left won a by-election.

Among the candidates were Senator and future TD Michael Mulcahy, Brian Hayes who would go on to serve as both a Minister of State and MEP, Dublin City Councillor Joe Connolly and South Dublin County Councillor and future Senator Cáit Keane.

On the same day, a by-election took place in Mayo West.

Background

Fianna Fáil TD John O'Connell, a former Ceann Comhairle and previously Minister for Health, announced on 24 February 1993 that he would resign as a TD due to ill health, forcing a by-election in the constituency.[1] Another by-election was due to be called after Mayo West TD Pádraig Flynn was appointed as Ireland's European Commissioner.[2] Opposition parties initially pushed to hold the by-elections as early as possible, but an April 1994 motion proposed by Democratic Left leader Proinsias De Rossa to force the elections was voted down by government parties Fianna Fáil and Labour.[3] The date of the election was later set to 9 June 1994.

Candidates

Democratic Left

One of the first candidates to declare their intention to run was Dublin City Councillor and former TD for the constituency Eric Byrne. Byrne was elected at the 1989 general election as a Workers' Party TD,[4] but stood as a candidate for Democratic Left at the 1992 general election. After a long count, Byrne lost his seat to Fianna Fáil's Ben Briscoe by five votes.[5]

Fianna Fáil

Initial speculation suggested that some potential Fianna Fáil candidates included the party's third candidate at the last election councillor Michael Mulcahy, thrice unsuccessful Dublin South candidate Ann Ormonde, councillor Seán Ardagh and previous TD for the constituency Mary Mooney.[6] Olympic gold medalist boxer Michael Carruth's name had been floated as a potential high-profile candidate, though Carruth's PR team denied knowledge of any approach to him.[7] In April 1993, it was reported that O'Connell's son, Dr. John O'Connell Jnr., was the most likely nominee, with Ardagh his closest challenger.[8] Nevertheless, Michael Mulcahy was selected as the party's candidate.[9] Dublin Central TD Bertie Ahern was Mulcahy's director of elections.[10]

Fine Gael

Speculated Fine Gael candidates included Norma Mitchell, wife of sitting TD for the constituency Gay Mitchell,[11] local councillor Stan Laing, former councillor from Rialto Peter Burke, Clondalkin councillor Therese Ridge and former Lord Mayor of Dublin Alexis FitzGerald Jnr.[12] It was reported in April 1993 that former TD for Dún Laoghaire and women's rights activist Monica Barnes would be the front-runner for the nomination.[13] In January 1994, Young Fine Gael member Brian Hayes was selected as Fine Gael's candidate.[14]

Labour Party

Dublin City Councillor for Rathmines, Mary Freehill, had been suggested as a potential Labour Party candidate for the seat.[6] There had been some suggestion that celebrity psychiatrist Anthony Clare would contest the election for Labour, but sitting TD for the constituency Pat Upton backed local councillor and founder of the Community Games, Joe Connolly.[15] Connolly was selected as the Labour candidate in June.[16]

Independents and others

In August 1993, Eamonn Gavin stated he would stand as an independent candidate.[17] The main witness in the controversial "Tallaght Two" case, Gavin said he would run as a "law and order" candidate.[18]

In April 1994, councillor Cáit Keane was selected as the Progressive Democrats' candidate for the election.[19] Three candidates from Crumlin ran; librarian John Goodwillie for the Green Party, student Martina Gibney for Sinn Féin and Dublin Corporation foreman Shay Kelly for the Workers' Party.[10] Two other independents stood; businessman Michael Park from Kimmage and perennial candidate Benny Cooney from Athlone in County Westmeath.[20]

Campaign

From the get-go the by-election campaign was expected to be a bitter one, and a test of the incumbent government's approval.[21] Following the raising of property taxes and cutting of tax reliefs in the 1994 budget, the government were expected to take a hit at the polls.[22]

Fianna Fáil pursued a vote-transfer agreement with their cabinet colleagues in Labour for the by-elections here and in Mayo West, though it was believed that Labour activists in the constituency were opposed to a formal vote arrangement.[23] Two days before the election, Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Dick Spring rejected calls for a voting pact between the two parties.[24]

Fine Gael candidate Brian Hayes was noted to have produced a leaflet with a picture Dick Spring with the caption "Tricky Dicky", asking "Would you buy a used car from this man?", an allusion to a poster regarding Richard Nixon during the 1960 United States presidential election.[25] During the campaign, independent candidate Eamonn Gavin called on a national referendum to be held on the legalisation of flogging for criminals.[26]

Result

Director of elections for the Fianna Fáil campaign, Bertie Ahern, conceded the election after the first count, saying that a vote pact between them and Labour may have changed the result.[27]

1994 Dublin South-Central by-election
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Democratic Left Eric Byrne 27.8 7,445 7,479 7,601 7,748 7,930 8,352 8,984 10,284 12,741
Fianna Fáil Michael Mulcahy 21.1 5,642 5,697 5,770 5,893 6,043 6,335 6,664 7,370 8,629
Fine Gael Brian Hayes 17.3 4,637 4,677 4,723 4,752 4,926 5,628 6,028 6,619  
Labour Joe Connolly 9.9 2,643 2,664 2,743 2,824 2,904 3,062 3,417    
Progressive Democrats Cáit Keane 7.0 1,881 1,912 1,939 1,955 2,095        
Green John Goodwillie 6.5 1,752 1,809 1,904 2,138 2,332 2,579      
Independent Eamonn Gavin 3.6 972 1,038 1,053 1,088          
Sinn Féin Martina Gibney 2.9 781 800 859            
Workers' Party Shay Kelly 2.2 595 618              
Independent Michael Park 1.0 275                
Independent Benny Cooney 0.6 152                
Electorate: 62,300   Valid: 26,775   Quota: 13,388   Turnout: 43.0%  

See also

References

  1. ^ Doyle, Jim (25 February 1993). "Dr John quits". The Star. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. ^ Mac Cormaic, Mairtin (29 April 1993). "By-election writs voted out". Irish Independent. p. 5. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Election call move defeated". Evening Herald. 28 April 1993. p. 42. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  4. ^ "ElectionsIreland.org: Eric Byrne". www.electionsireland.org. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  5. ^ Mullan, Des (25 February 1993). "Long Count Byrne ready to run again". Evening Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b Howick, Peter (26 February 1993). "Candidates tussle for poll position". Evening Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  7. ^ Sheils, John (2 March 1993). "Carruth's in line to be a poll knockout". The Star. p. 9. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  8. ^ "O'Connell favourite". Irish Independent. 8 April 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  9. ^ Molony, Senan (19 May 1994). "Government double test". The Star. p. 4. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b McCarthy, Kerry (1 June 1994). "BY-ELECTION SPECIAL REPORT: How the Dublin South Central seat will be won". Evening Herald. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  11. ^ "It's over to Norma!". Evening Herald. 12 March 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  12. ^ Howick, Peter (6 April 1993). "Tipp deputy alert over". Evening Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Barnes likely front runner". Irish Independent. 7 April 1993. p. 9. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  14. ^ "FG candidate for by-election". Evening Herald. 30 March 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Tony in the psychiatrist's seat?". Evening Herald. 19 March 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Labour picks veteran Joe". Evening Herald. 11 June 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Gavin to stand". Evening Herald. 17 August 1993. p. 58. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Gavin runs for the Dail". The Star. 20 November 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Cait to run for PDs". Evening Herald. 25 April 1994. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Dáil By Election". The Star. 3 June 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  21. ^ McGeehan, Terry (26 February 1993). "Battle lines drawn for doc's seat in Dáil". The Star. p. 8. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  22. ^ Mullan, Des (28 January 1994). "Budget: 'Govt parties facing snub at polls'". Evening Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  23. ^ McKenna, Gene (12 April 1993). "FF vies for by-election vote transfer deal with Labour". Evening Herald. p. 8. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  24. ^ Mullan, Des (7 June 1994). "Spring rejects a Euro-poll pact with FF". Evening Herald. p. 38. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  25. ^ Howick, Peter (2 June 1994). "FG's 'new man' Hayes is up to very old tricks". Evening Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  26. ^ Phelan, Bernard (7 June 1994). "Sentences are too soft on our thugs". The Star. p. 12. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Huge green vote in Euro poll". Evening Herald. 10 June 1994. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
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