1951 Irish general election

Campaign

The 1951 general election was caused by a number of crises within the first inter-party government, most notably the Mother and Child Scheme. While the affair – which saw the resignation of the Minister for Health, Noël Browne – was not entirely to blame for the collapse of the government, it added to the disagreement between the various political parties. There were other problems facing the country, such as rising prices and balance-of-payments problems. Two farmer TDs withdrew their support for the government because of rising milk prices.

The coalition parties fought the general election on their record over the previous three years, while Fianna Fáil argued strongly against coalition governments.

Result

|seats_% = 46.9 |fpv_% = 46.3 |seats_% = 27.2 |fpv_% = 25.8 |seats_% = 10.9 |fpv_% = 11.4 |seats_% = 4.1 |fpv_% = 2.9 |seats_% = 1.4 |fpv_% = 4.1 |seats_% = 0 |fpv_% = 0.0 |seats_% = 9.5 |fpv_% = 9.6 |}

Voting summary

Seats summary

Government formation

The election result was inconclusive. Fianna Fáil's support increased by 61,000 votes; however, the party only gained one additional seat. The coalition parties had mixed fortunes. Fine Gael were the big winners increasing to forty seats. The Labour Party had reunited in 1950, when the National Labour Party had merged back into the party but in spite of this, the party lost seats. Clann na Poblachta was the big loser of the election. Three years earlier the party had been a big political threat but now the party was shattered.

Fianna Fáil did not have enough seats to govern alone. However, the party was able to form a minority government with the support of Noël Browne, the sacked Minister for Health, and other Independent deputies.

Changes in membership

First-time TDs

• Philip Brady
• Joseph Brennan
• Patrick Cawley
• Declan Costello
• Patrick Crowe
• Liam Cunningham
• Percy Dockrell
• Peadar Duignan
• Anthony Esmonde
• John Fanning
• Michael ffrench-O'Carroll
• Seán Flanagan
• Colm Gallagher
• James Hession
• Patrick Hillery
• John Lynch
• Peadar Maher
• John Mannion Snr
• Michael Pat Murphy
• William Murphy
• Denis J. O'Sullivan

Re-elected TDs

• Laurence Walsh

Defeated TDs

• Mick Fitzpatrick
• John Friel
• Patrick Gorry
• James Kilroy
• Michael Lydon
• Michael Óg McFadden
• Martin O'Sullivan
• Robert Ryan

Retiring TDs

• Richard Walsh

Vacancies

• Sir John Esmonde (resigned)
• Joseph Mongan (deceased)

Seanad election

The Dáil election was followed by an election to the 7th Seanad.

Notes

References

References

1. {{cite Irish legislation. (1937). (1 November 1937)
2. "14th Dáil 1951: Galway South".
3. "14th Dáil 1951 General Election". ElectionsIreland.org.
4. "Dáil elections since 1918". ARK Northern Ireland.
5. (2010). "Elections in Europe: A data handbook". Nomos.