1997 Irish general election






















1997 Irish general election







← 1992
6 June 1997
2002 →

← outgoing members


TDs elected →



165 of 166 seats in Dáil Éireann
84 seats needed for a majority
Turnout 65.9%































































































































































 
First party
Second party
Third party
 

BertieAhernBerlin2007.jpg

John Bruton 2011.jpg

Irish Tánaiste Dick Spring at the White House, 16 Nov 1993.jpg
Leader

Bertie Ahern

John Bruton

Dick Spring
Party

Fianna Fáil

Fine Gael

Labour Party
Leader since

19 December 1994

20 November 1990
November 1982
Leader's seat

Dublin Central

Meath

Kerry North
Last election
68 seats, 39.1%
45 seats, 24.5%
33 seats, 19.9%
Seats before
67
47
32
Seats won
77
54
17
Seat change

Increase 10

Increase 7

Decrease 15
Popular vote
703,700
499,900
186,000
Percentage
39.3%
27.9%
10.4%
Swing

Increase 0.2%

Increase 3.4%

Decrease 8.9%

 
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
 

Mary Harney cropped.jpg

Proinsias De Rossa, cropped.jpg

No image.png
Leader

Mary Harney

Proinsias De Rossa

Party

Progressive Democrats

Democratic Left

Green Party
Leader since
12 October 1993
1992

Leader's seat

Dublin South-West

Dublin North-West

Last election
10 seats, 4.7%
4 seats, 2.8%
1 seat, 1.4%
Seats before
9
6
1
Seats won
4
4
2
Seat change

Decrease 5

Decrease 2

Increase 1
Popular vote
83,800
44,900
49,300
Percentage
4.7%
2.5%
2.8%
Swing

Steady 0.0%

Decrease 0.3%

Increase 1.4%




Irish general election 1997.png
Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.








Taoiseach before election

John Bruton
Fine Gael



Subsequent Taoiseach

Bertie Ahern
Fianna Fáil




The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.


The general election took place in 41 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 165 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.




Contents






  • 1 Overview


  • 2 Results


    • 2.1 Voting summary


    • 2.2 Seats summary




  • 3 Dáil membership changes


  • 4 See also


  • 5 References


  • 6 External links





Overview


The 1997 general election saw the public offered a choice of two possible coalitions. The existing government was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left – the so-called "Rainbow Coalition". This in very broad terms could be described as a centre-left coalition. It was opposed by a possible coalition of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, which most Irish commentators regarded as a centre-right coalition.


Following the election none of the major parties had a clear majority. Negotiations resulted in a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition taking office. Four Independent Teachta Dála (TDs) also supported the government ensuring an overall majority. Bertie Ahern became the Taoiseach while Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats became Tánaiste.


Although Fine Gael gained seats, it crossed the Dáil chamber to the Opposition benches. Fianna Fáil also increased its representation, but the Progressive Democrats had a disastrous election, losing more than half their seats – including ones thought safe such as Cork North-Central and Dún Laoghaire, despite no decrease in their vote. The Green Party picked up an extra seat, with John Gormley elected in Dublin South-East. He was elected by just over 30 votes after a marathon recount, lasting four days, saw Progressive Democrat Michael McDowell defeated. The main feature of the election, however, was the collapse of the Labour Party vote. Not only did it lose seats it had picked up in the 1992 general election, when its vote was an at all-time high – such as in Clare and Laois–Offaly – but it also lost reasonably safe seats, such as in Dublin North, Dublin Central and Cork South-Central.


Dick Spring would later retire as leader of the Labour Party. Democratic Left also suffered, losing its two gains made in by-elections during the 27th Dáil. Sinn Féin won a seat for the first time since 1957, in the Cavan–Monaghan constituency with the election of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. It also narrowly missed a seat in Kerry North. The Socialist Party, a Trotskyist party which consisted of former members of the Labour Party expelled in 1989, gained a seat in the Dublin West constituency.



Results













































































Party

Fianna Fáil

Fine Gael

Labour Party

Progressive Democrats

Green Party

Sinn Féin

Democratic Left

Socialist Party








Leader
Bertie Ahern
John Bruton
Dick Spring
Mary Harney

Gerry Adams
Proinsias De Rossa
Joe Higgins
Votes
39.3%, 703,682
27.9%, 499,936
10.4%, 186,044
4.7%, 83,765
2.8%, 49,323
2.5%, 45,614
2.5%, 44,901
0.7%, 12,445








































Seats
77 (46.4%)
54 (32.5%)
17 (10.2%)
4 (2.4%)
2 (1.2%)
1 (0.6%)
4 (2.4%)
1 (0.6%)





































































77

4

6

54

17

4




Fianna Fáil

PD

Inds

Fine Gael

Labour

DL

































Vote Share of different parties in the election.



  Fianna Fáil (39.3%)


  Fine Gael (27.9%)


  Labour Party (10.4%)


  Progressive Democrats (4.7%)


  Green Party (2.8%)


  Sinn Féin (2.5%)


  Democratic Left (2.5%)


  National Party (1.1%)


  Socialist Party (0.6%)


  Other (8.2%)












































































































































































































28th Irish general election – 6 June 1997[1][2]
Party
Leader
Seats
±
% of
seats
First Pref
votes
% FPv
±%


Fianna Fáil

Bertie Ahern
77

Increase10
46.4
703,682
39.3

Increase0.2


Fine Gael

John Bruton
54

Increase9
32.5
499,936
27.9

Increase3.4


Labour Party

Dick Spring
17

Decrease16
10.2
186,044
10.4

Decrease8.9


Progressive Democrats

Mary Harney
4

Decrease6
2.4
83,765
4.7
±0.0


Green Party

2

Increase1
1.2
49,323
2.8

Increase1.4


Sinn Féin

Gerry Adams[3]
1

Increase1
0.6
45,614
2.5

Increase0.9


Democratic Left

Proinsias De Rossa
4

Steady 0
2.4
44,901
2.5

Decrease0.3


National Party

Nora Bennis
0

New
0
19,077
1.1

New


Socialist Party

Joe Higgins
1

New
0.6
12,445
0.7

New


Christian Solidarity

Gerard Casey
0

New
0
8,357
0.5

New


Workers' Party

Tom French
0

Steady 0
0
7,808
0.4

Decrease0.3


Socialist Workers

N/A
0

New
0
2,028
0.1

New


Natural Law Party

N/A
0

New
0
1,515
0.1

New


South Kerry Independent

0

New
0
1,388
0.1

New


Independent

N/A
6

Increase2
3.6
123,102
7.9

Increase1.1
Spoilt votes
17,947



Total

166

0

100

1,806,932

100

Electorate/Turnout
2,741,262
65.9%


  • Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats minority coalition government formed.

The outgoing Ceann Comhairle retired at this election. Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (11,607 votes, 1 seat).



Voting summary




































































First preference vote
Fianna Fáil
39.33%
Fine Gael
27.95%
Labour
10.40%
Progressive Democrats
4.68%
Green
2.76%
Sinn Féin
2.55%
Democratic Left
2.51%
National
1.07%
Socialist
0.70%
Others
1.18%
Independent
6.88%




Seats summary


























































Assembly seats
Fianna Fáil
46.39%
Fine Gael
32.53%
Labour
10.24%
Progressive Democrats
2.41%
Democratic Left
2.41%
Green
1.20%
Sinn Féin
0.60%
Socialist
0.60%
Independent
3.61%




Dáil membership changes


The following changes took place as a result of the election:



  • 17 outgoing TDs retired, including the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Treacy

  • 149 TDs stood for re-election

    • 121 were re-elected

    • 28 failed to be re-elected



  • 45 successor TDs were elected

    • 32 were elected for the first time

    • 13 had previously been TDs



  • There were 6 successor female TDs, replacing 9 outgoing, decreasing the total number by 3 to 20

  • There were changes in 34 of the 41 constituencies contested


Outgoing TDs are listed in the constituency they constested in the election. For some, such as Kildare North, this differs from the constituency they represented in the outgoing Dáil. Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only.





















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Constituency
Departing TD
Party
Change
Comment
Successor TD
Party

Carlow–Kilkenny

M. J. Nolan


Fianna Fáil
Lost seat


John McGuinness


Fianna Fáil

Cavan–Monaghan

Jimmy Leonard


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin


Sinn Féin

Clare

Moosajee Bhamjee


Labour Party
Retired
Daly – Former TD

Brendan Daly


Fianna Fáil

Cork East

John Mulvihill


Labour Party
Lost seat


David Stanton


Fine Gael

Cork North-Central

Kathleen Lynch


Democratic Left
Lost seat


Noel O'Flynn


Fianna Fáil

Máirín Quill


Progressive Democrats
Lost seat


Billy Kelleher


Fianna Fáil

Cork North-West

Frank Crowley


Fine Gael
Lost seat


Michael Moynihan


Fianna Fáil

Cork South-Central

Peter Barry


Fine Gael
Retired


Deirdre Clune


Fine Gael

Toddy O'Sullivan


Labour Party
Lost seat
Dennehy – Former TD

John Dennehy


Fianna Fáil

Cork South-West
No membership changes

Donegal North-East

Paddy Harte


Fine Gael
Lost seat


Harry Blaney


Ind. Fianna Fáil

Donegal South-West

Pat "the Cope" Gallagher


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Tom Gildea


Independent

Dublin Central

Joe Costello


Labour Party
Lost seat


Marian McGennis


Fianna Fáil

Dublin North

Seán Ryan


Labour Party
Lost seat
Wright – Former TD

G. V. Wright


Fianna Fáil

Dublin North-Central
No membership changes

Dublin North-East

Seán Kenny


Labour Party
Lost seat
Cosgrave – Former TD

Michael Joe Cosgrave


Fine Gael

Liam Fitzgerald


Fianna Fáil
Lost seat


Martin Brady


Fianna Fáil

Dublin North-West

Mary Flaherty


Fine Gael
Lost seat


Pat Carey


Fianna Fáil

Dublin South

Eithne FitzGerald


Labour Party
Lost seat


Olivia Mitchell


Fine Gael

Dublin South-Central

Eric Byrne


Democratic Left
Lost seat


Seán Ardagh


Fianna Fáil

Dublin South-East

Michael McDowell


Progressive Democrats
Lost seat


John Gormley


Green Party

Dublin South-West

Eamonn Walsh


Labour Party
Lost seat


Conor Lenihan


Fianna Fáil

Mervyn Taylor


Labour Party
Retired


Brian Hayes


Fine Gael

Dublin West

Joan Burton


Labour Party
Lost seat


Joe Higgins


Socialist Party

Dún Laoghaire

Niamh Bhreathnach


Labour Party
Lost seat


Mary Hanafin


Fianna Fáil

Helen Keogh


Progressive Democrats
Lost seat
Barnes – Former TD

Monica Barnes


Fine Gael

Galway East

New seat


Ulick Burke


Fine Gael

Galway West

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn


Fianna Fáil
Retired
Fahey – Former TD

Frank Fahey


Fianna Fáil

Kerry North
No membership changes

Kerry South

John O'Leary


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Jackie Healy-Rae


Independent

Kildare North
No membership changes

Kildare South
New constituency, new seat


Jack Wall


Labour Party

Laois–Offaly

Liam Hyland


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Seán Fleming


Fianna Fáil

Pat Gallagher


Labour Party
Lost seat
Enright – Former TD

Tom Enright


Fine Gael

Ger Connolly


Fianna Fáil
Retired


John Moloney


Fianna Fáil

Limerick East

Peadar Clohessy


Progressive Democrats
Retired


Eddie Wade


Fianna Fáil

Limerick West

Gerry Collins


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Michael Collins


Fianna Fáil

Michael J. Noonan


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Dan Neville


Fine Gael

Longford–Roscommon

John Connor


Fine Gael
Lost seat


Denis Naughten


Fine Gael

Tom Foxe


Independent
Lost seat
Belton – Former TD

Louis Belton


Fine Gael

Louth
No membership changes

Mayo

P. J. Morley


Fianna Fáil
Lost seat


Beverley Flynn


Fianna Fáil

Séamus Hughes


Fianna Fáil
Lost seat
Constituency reduced to 5 seats

Meath

Colm Hilliard


Fianna Fáil
Retired


Johnny Brady


Fianna Fáil

Brian Fitzgerald


Labour Party
Lost seat
Farrelly – Former TD

John V. Farrelly


Fine Gael

Sligo–Leitrim

Ted Nealon


Fine Gael
Retired


John Perry


Fine Gael

Declan Bree


Labour Party
Lost seat
Reynolds – Former TD

Gerry Reynolds


Fine Gael

Tipperary North

John Ryan


Labour Party
Retired
O'Kennedy – Former TD

Michael O'Kennedy


Fianna Fáil

Tipperary South

Seán Treacy


Labour Party
Retired
Constituency seats from 4 to 3

Waterford
No membership changes

Westmeath
No membership changes

Wexford

Avril Doyle


Fine Gael
Lost seat
D'Arcy – Former TD

Michael D'Arcy


Fine Gael

Wicklow

Godfrey Timmins


Fine Gael
Retired


Billy Timmins


Fine Gael

Liam Kavanagh


Labour Party
Lost seat
Roche – Former TD

Dick Roche


Fianna Fáil


See also



  • Government of the 28th Dáil

  • Members of the 28th Dáil

  • Ministers of State of the 28th Dáil



References





  1. ^ "28th Dáil – General Election: 6 June 1997". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 9 April 2009..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1009-1017
    ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7



  3. ^ After the election, while Gerry Adams was leader of the Sinn Féin party, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin became leader (indeed, sole member) of the Sinn Féin parliamentary party.




External links




  • 1997 election: Party leaders' debate RTÉ archives dead link

  • Fianna Fail Election Manifesto 1997 Irish general election








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