Ireland South MEPS elected: Sean Kelly (FG), Billy Kelleher (FF), Michael McNamara (IND), Kathleen Funchion (SF) and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (FF) Midlands-Northwest MEPS elected: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (IND), Barry Cowen (FF), Maria Walsh (FG), Nina Carberry (FG), Ciaran Mullooly (Ind Ireland)Dublin MEPS elected: Barry Andrews (FF), Regina Doherty (FG), Lynn Boylan (SF) and Aodhan Ó Riordáin (LAB)Outgoing MEP Mick Wallace loses his seat in Ireland South on Thursday evening
Fianna Fail has doubled its presence in the European parliament, with Fine Gael on four seats – down one from its previous showing in 2019.
Sinn Fein has increased its European representation from one to two, while Labour holds one seat, the Independent Ireland party claimed one and two non-party aligned independents fill the remainder.
In the early hours of Friday morning, the constituency of Midlands-Northwest elected Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh as well as Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly.
It followed shortly after the election of Fianna Fail’s Barry Cowen, while left-wing independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan was the first candidate over the line in the constituency on Thursday.
It was the last constituency to declare in the European Parliament elections.
Ireland South elected Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly, independent Michael McNamara, Sinn Fein’s Kathleen Funchion as well as Fianna Fail’s Billy Kelleher and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu.
Cynthia Ni Mhurchú celebrates being elected to the Ireland South Constituency
Dublin’s electorate selected Fianna Fail’s Barry Andrews, Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan, Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty and Labour’s Aodhan O Riordain.
Five MEPs have lost their seats throughout the entire process: Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, Greens Grace O’Sullivan and Ciaran Cuffe as well as independents Mick Wallace and Clare Daly.
Voters headed to the polls last Friday to pick 949 local councillors, 14 MEPs and the country’s first directly elected mayor.
Results from the three elections have been seen as a political boon for coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, while the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, has initiated a review after performing well below its own expectations.
Fianna Fail has emerged as the largest party in local government after all seats in Ireland’s local election were filled.
In the local elections, both main Government parties attracted around 23pc of first preference votes, representing a slight drop on their 2019 result.
Fianna Fail had 248 seats on councils, with Fine Gael close behind on 245. Sinn Fein was on 102 while 186 seats were held by independents.
Sinn Fein has increased it share of councillors, but party leader Mary Lou McDonald has admitted the result fell below their expectations.
The popular vote of 12pc is a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the main opposition party which emerged from the 2020 general election on 24.5pc.
Meanwhile, the Labour party is down one to 56 councillors, the Green Party’s support fell to 26 council seats while the Social Democrats’ share rose to 35.
The number of Independent councillors has also increased.
Fianna Fail will be tied with Fine Gael in terms of political representation at the European Parliament, despite the latter ending the elections with one fewer seat.
Sinn Fein has also increased its share of MEPs, and is hopeful for an additional seat through Ms Gildernew.
The results have fuelled speculation that the Government may look to call a general election earlier than the current projected timeline of spring 2025.
However, the leaders of all three coalition parties, Mr Harris, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, have all insisted they remain committed to the government going full term.
For her part, Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald, who is facing questions over her stewardship of the party, has struck a defiant tone, urging Mr Harris to “bring it on” and call an early election.
With the election of TDs to the European Parliament, there will be a need for several by-elections in the coming six months.
That has added to speculation that the Government may seek an earlier general election, rather than fighting several potential by-elections only months before the Dail is dissolved.
Midlands-Northwest
The five-days-long Midlands-Northwest count at TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar came to an end in the early hours of Friday morning.
The final three seats of Midlands-Northwest constituency have been filled by Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh, Nina Carberry and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly after the 21st count.
The exciting five days count saw a long of wait for the first election which concluded on Thursday with independent candidate Luke Ming Flanagan topping the poll in 19th count results while Barry Cowen (FF) got elected in the 20th count becoming the second candidate to pass the quota.
A further redistribution of Luke ‘Ming’ flanagan’s surplus votes decided the fates of remaining four candidates, three of whom were elected while Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew had to be eliminated.
The last three candidates were elected without reaching the quota with Maria Walsh (FG) having 100781 votes, Nina Carberry (FG) having 98872 votes and Ciaran Mullooly (II) having 88177 votes.
Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew and Chris MacManus call for an early general election
Champion Jockey and businesswoman Nina Carberry has secured the second seat for Fine Gael in the constituency and will join party colleague Maria Walsh in the European Parliament.
In her address to the audience present at count centre Nina thanked her voters and supporters for the faith they have showed in her.
She said: “Many people think I don’t have anything to give, but that’s not true. I have a lot to do and I am ready for my work in Europe.
“I am looking forward to working with Maria and I think we will make a great team to deliver for the constituency.”
Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly said he will have a specific focus on regeneration of rural Ireland.
He said: “The farming and rural issues are very high on my agenda. We have a huge decline in population across the country in towns and villages. We have issues there and we need to focus on them.
“I will also be focusing on improving the livelihood of people both in urban and rural areas across Ireland.”
The results of Midlands Northwest constituency remained disappointing for Sinn Fein as the outgoing MEP Chris MacManus lost his seat. The second candidate Michelle Gallagher remained a big challenge for Ciaran Mullooly but she lost the run in the last count.
Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived at TF Royal Hotel in the last hours of count to meet Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh.
Speaking to the media he expressed excitement at the “incredible results” in local elections of Mayo county council and the European elections.
He called it “absolute nonsense” that the two Fine Gael MEP candidates are being described as ‘celebrity candidates’ by many people.
He said: “Nina Carberry is not a celebrity; she is a champion. Using a little less pejorative language would be useful, when you have so many award-winning people who run businesses or who write books, joining an experienced MEP.
“This is an incredible ticket of two female MEPs being elected in Midlands Northwest and I am extremely proud of them. I think the people of Midlands Northwest are also proud of them and that’s why they exceeded all expectations of all pandits who yet again got it wrong in predicting what people of this constituency would do.”
Ireland South
In Ireland South, the final three seats were filled on Thursday afternoon as Michael McNamara (IND), Kathleen Funchion (SF) and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (FF) were elected as MEPs. Sitting MEP Mick Wallace lost his seat.
Counting in Ireland South ended after a gruelling five days which saw Sean Kelly (FG) top the poll in the first count while Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil) had to wait until count 18 to be the second candidate to pass the quota.
Upon the redistribution of Grace O’Sullivan’s votes, Ní Mhurchú confirmed her lead over Wallace, who lost his seat in the European Parliament.
McNamara, Funchion and Ní Mhurchú were elected without reaching the quota.
Mary Lou McDonald celebrates with Kathleen Funchion after being elected as an MEP for the Ireland South constituency
Former RTÉ broadcaster Cynthia Ní Mhurchú secured a second seat for Fianna Fáil and will join running mate Billy Kelleher in Brussels for the next five years.
The barrister and mediator, who hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside the late Gerry Ryan in 1994, said she plans to have the celebration of all celebrations for her 58th birthday tomorrow.
“It is magnificent. I am going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow. The celebrations won’t last a day. They will last many many days.”
Ms Ni Mhurchú said that she has enjoyed every minute of meeting with would be voters over the last few months.
“I have relished every day of the campaign meeting people. I am a people person. The campaign was run in a very organised way but also in a very human way. We did get a chance to engage with people, to meet with groups, to meet with politicians, councillors and families and to go in to schools. It was a very positive campaign.”
Her priorities going forward include protecting rural communities, encompassing farmers and business people.
Dublin
Finally, the Dublin counts concluded on Tuesday afternoon with Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews, Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Labour’s Aodhan Ó Riordáin all elected as MEPs for the Dublin constituency.
All four confirmed their places in the European Parliament after they were the only candidates left remaining in the field after the 19th and final count at the RDS centre in Dublin.
Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan was the last to be eliminated from the closely fought contest.
Source link : https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/local-election/european-elections-2024-michael-mcnamara-kathleen-funchion-and-cynthia-ni-mhurchu-elected-as-meps-in-ireland-south-as-mick-wallace-loses-seat/a1169519331.html
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Publish date : 2024-06-13 16:44:55
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