Byelections 2019: Fine Gael suffer blow after failing to win any seats
The Government has suffered a blow after failing to win any seats in four byelections which could provide clues before the whole country goes to the polls next year.
By-elections were held this week in four constituencies.
- 'Good day for working class' as SF's Mark Ward takes Dáil seat
- FF's Padraig O'Sullivan 'honoured' with win but 'it's back out campaigning soon'
- Byrne hits out at racism in politics after win in Wexford
- 'There's momentum behind us': O'Brien celebrates first Green byelection win
Fine Gael and its tight margin for passing laws with the support of a coalition of independents will shrink further following the result of Friday’s vote in parts of Dublin, Wexford and Cork.
The byelections were held to fill vacancies left by TDs elected to the European Parliament in May.
Party leader Leo Varadkar faces a general election for the Dail parliament next spring while grappling with the ongoing impact of Brexit on the economy.
The Taoiseach is facing fierce criticism from Fianna Fáil and left-wing opponents over issues like homelessness.
A vote of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is due to be held next week.
Sinn Féin's Mark Ward has been elected to the Dail on the ninth count in the Dublin Mid West by-election, a result party leader Mary Lou McDonald said was
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The Clondalkin councillor beat Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins by just 500 votes in the end to secure a place in the four-seater constituency.
Celebrating with family and campaigners, Mr Ward declared that his first job when he walks into the Dail next Tuesday will be vote against Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy in a Dail motion.
Sinn Féin’s Mark Ward elected to the Dail for Dublin Mid West on the ninth count #iestaff #DMW19 #BE19 pic.twitter.com/CgNPgnoBNi
— Juno McEnroe (@Junomaco) November 30, 2019
In Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail's Padraig O'Sullivan claimed the seat in the on the
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Mr O'Sullivan had been the early frontrunner, claiming 27.6% of the first preference votes and he never relinquished that lead.
He fills the seat vacated by party colleague Billy Kelleher earlier this year. Kelleher had been a TD in Cork North-Central for more than two decades before his election to the European Parliament.
Immensely honoured to have just been elected as a @fiannafailparty member of Dáil Éireann for the constituency of #CorkNorthCentral #AnIrelandForAll pic.twitter.com/a0kP2tKu88
— Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (@padraigosull) November 30, 2019
Fianna Fáil's Malcolm Byrne has said there is no place for
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The candidate, who out in a strong performance in May's European Parliament elections, won the seat vacated by Mick Wallace who has taken up a seat in Brussels.
Speaking after his election, Mr Byrne said: "Racism and the language of hate and division has no place in Wexford politics. Wexford is better than that."
Fianna Fáil’s @malcolmbyrne doesn’t reach the quota but is elected in #wexford #iestaff pic.twitter.com/0jE8Kgkte2
— Elaine Loughlin (@Elaine_Loughlin) November 30, 2019
Meanwhile, The Green Party is celebrating its
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Mr O'Brien, a Skerries-based councillor, fended off the challenge of Fianna Fail's Lorraine Clifford-Lee who finished in second place and Labour's Duncan Smith who finished in third position.
Mr O'Brien was formally elected with 12,315 votes having topped the poll and led the field from the front all the way through.
Speaking to reporters after his victory, Mr O'Brien said he was humbled and honoured to have been elected but said it was the result of more than seven years effort.
Another Green win. Good luck to our new Fingal TD Joe O’Brien! pic.twitter.com/3w3wu0VdeB
— Laura Lynott (@Ly211) November 30, 2019
