Ireland’s Parliamentary Election Process Explained

The general election held in Ireland on Friday will determine the composition of the Dáil, which serves as the lower chamber of the Oireachtas, Ireland’s national parliament. Those elected are referred to as Teachtaí Dála (TDs). Following a review conducted in 2023, both the number of TDs and constituencies are set to increase for the 2024 election. Currently, there are 43 Dáil constituencies (an increase from 39 in 2020), each electing between three and five TDs. A total of 174 TDs will be chosen, up from 160 in 2020. Since one Dáil seat is allocated to the Ceann Comhairle (speaker), a total of 88 TDs are needed to secure an outright majority. Over 3.4 million individuals are registered to cast their votes in the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland selects its government through a system of proportional representation known as the single transferable vote. Voters are given the chance to rank candidates within their constituency according to their preference, indicating their top choice with a number one, their second choice with a number two, and so forth. They are permitted to vote for as many or as few candidates as they wish. Candidates must achieve a specific number of votes to be elected. This threshold is calculated for each constituency using a mathematical formula that considers the available seats and the total votes cast. The counting of ballots occurs in multiple stages. Initially, each ballot is assigned to the voter’s first preference. Once a candidate reaches the required number of votes, they are elected, and any surplus ballots where they were marked as the first choice are then transferred to the second-ranked preferences. Ballots continue to be transferred to the next viable preference until all constituency seats are filled by candidates who have met the quota. Historically, the political landscape in the Republic was predominantly shaped by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Both parties originated from a division in nationalist sentiment concerning the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. Fianna Fáil was once considered more centrist, while Fine Gael was viewed as more conservative; however, these distinctions have diminished, and both are now perceived as centre-right parties. Four years prior, Fianna Fáil secured 38 seats, and Fine Gael obtained 35. To achieve a governing majority, a coalition administration was established among Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party. This year’s election represented the initial significant electoral challenge for Simon Harris, the leader of Fine Gael and Taoiseach (Irish prime minister). He assumed the role in April, becoming the youngest individual to lead the Republic of Ireland at 37, following the resignation of his predecessor, Leo Varadkar. Harris first entered the Dáil in 2011, at the age of 24, as a TD for Wicklow. He experienced a rapid ascent through the party ranks, securing his first cabinet position before turning 30. As health minister, he oversaw the Republic’s referendum to repeal its abortion ban and managed the country’s initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fianna Fáil is headed by Michéal Martin, the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister). He is an experienced politician who transitioned from a brief teaching career in 1985 to full-time political work. Martin was first elected as a TD in 1989 and has been re-elected in every subsequent election. He took on the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 2011 and was elected Taoiseach in 2020 as part of the three-party coalition agreement. Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald, is an Irish republican and democratic socialist party, and it functions as the primary opposition party. McDonald was the party’s first MEP (member of the European Parliament) in 2004 and secured her first Dáil seat for the party in the Dublin Central constituency in 2011. She became vice-president of Sinn Féin in 2009 and succeeded Gerry Adams as president in 2018. Since then, the Dublin politician has endeavored to distance her party from criticisms regarding its historical connections to IRA violence. In 2020, her party achieved substantial gains and led the popular vote, winning 37 seats. It has emerged as the largest party across Northern Ireland’s councils, its assembly, and at Westminster. Other parties presenting candidates for the election include Labour, Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, Aontú, and the recently established Independent Ireland. Concerns regarding housing, immigration, and public services have been central to the campaign. Ireland is projected to have a total budget surplus of €25bn (£20.8bn) this year, partly due to a substantial tax windfall from Apple, and the parties are making big spending pledges and the parties are making big spending pledges. However, some voters state they “don’t see” the country’s healthy bank balance. The significant expense of renting or purchasing a home has been a dominant issue in the campaign, while this marks the first Irish general election where immigration has been a prominent topic. It gained prominence following the Dublin riots in November 2023, though it has not become the defining election issue. This campaign featured its share of widely shared moments. An awkward interaction between a care worker and Simon Harris during canvassing in County Cork last weekend garnered millions of views across social media platforms in the final week of the campaign. In his initial campaign as Fine Gael leader, Harris frequently had to address election-related challenges. The party had been conducting its campaign under a “new energy” slogan since his election as leader and Taoiseach earlier this year. Commentators speculated whether the ‘Harris Hop’ might have evolved into something akin to a ‘flop’. Fianna Fáil, conversely, managed to avoid any negative viral incidents. Under Micheál Martin’s leadership, the party conducted what has been described as a steady campaign, without major breakthroughs but also without significant missteps. Sinn Féin had faced inquiries concerning its handling of recent internal disputes on both sides of the border, but these incidents do not appear to have had a particularly notable impact during the campaign, as the party’s polling position slightly improved. It concentrated on presenting its policy stances on key issues, such as its proposed solutions for the nation’s housing crisis. The exit poll indicates a close contest: Fine Gael 20%, Sinn Féin 21.1%, Fine Gael 20%, Fianna Fáil