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.

Byelections 2019: Fine Gael suffer blow after failing to win any seats

Additional reporting by Elaine Loughlin, Daniel McConnell, Juno McEnroe and Kevin O'Neill

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.

  • Read More:
    Dublin Mid-West:
    'Good day for working class' as SF's Mark Ward takes Dáil seat
  • Read More:
    Cork North Central:
    FF's Padraig O'Sullivan 'honoured' with win but 'it's back out campaigning soon'
  • Read More:
    Wexford:
    Byrne hits out at racism in politics after win in Wexford
  • Read More:
    Dublin Fingal:
    '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

Read More:

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.

In Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail's Padraig O'Sullivan claimed the seat in the on the

Read More:

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.

Fianna Fáil's Malcolm Byrne has said there is no place for

Read More:

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."

Meanwhile, The Green Party is celebrating its

Read More:

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.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash named locally, as husband returns to Ireland 'Their smiles lit up the room': Tributes paid to mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash
Irish constitution referenda Transport Minister does not envisage congestion charges in near future
McEntee: Group using arson to 'sow division and fear' in communities Four arrests in connection with fire at hotel earmarked for asylum seekers
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited