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2013 Meath East by-election

FieldValue
election_name2013 Meath East by-election
countryIreland
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_year[2011 general election](2011-irish-general-election)
election_date27 March 2013
next_year[2016 general election](2016-irish-general-election)
1blankFirst preferences
2blankPercentage
3blankFinal count
image1[[File:Helen McEntee in 2018.jpg120x120px]]
nominee1**Helen McEntee**
party1Fine Gael
1data19,356
2data138.5%
3data1**11,473**
image2[[File:Thomas Byrne.jpg120x120px]]
nominee2Thomas Byrne
party2Fianna Fáil
1data28,002
2data232.9%
3data29,582
image3[[File:Darren O'Rourke Sinn Féin 013.jpg120x120px]]
nominee3Darren O'Rourke
party3Sinn Féin
1data33,165
2data313.0%
3data3–
nominee4Ben Gilroy
party4Direct Democracy Ireland
1data41,568
2data46.5%
3data4–
nominee5Eoin Holmes
party5Labour Party (Ireland)
1data51,112
2data54.6%
3data5–
nominee6Seán Ó Buachalla
party6Green Party (Ireland)
1data6423
2data61.7%
3data6–
nominee7Seamus McDonagh
party7Workers' Party (Ireland)
1data7263
2data71.1%
3data7–
nominee8Mick Martin
party8Independent politician
1data8190
2data80.8%
3data8–
nominee9Charlie Keddy
party9Independent politician
1data9110
2data90.5%
3data9–
map_imageMeath East (Dáil Éireann constituency).png
map_size200px
map_captionMeath East shown within Ireland
titleTD
before_electionShane McEntee
before_partyFine Gael
after_electionHelen McEntee
after_partyFine Gael

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Meath East constituency in Ireland on Wednesday, 27 March 2013 following the death of the Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Shane McEntee on 21 December 2012.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring. The electorate of Meath East at the 2011 general election was 64,873.

Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, daughter of the deceased, was elected on the third count.

Candidates

On 22 February 2013, both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin selected their candidates for the by-election. Fianna Fáil selected Senator Thomas Byrne, a former TD for the constituency. Sinn Féin selected Darren O'Rourke, a medical scientist who worked as a health policy advisor to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. The Workers' Party announced that Seamus McDonagh, a spokesperson for the local Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) campaign, would contest the election.

On 5 March, the Green Party selected Seán Ó Buachalla as its candidate, a youth club development officer, On 7 March, Fine Gael selected Helen McEntee, daughter of Shane McEntee, as its candidate. On 9 March, the Labour Party selected Meath County Councillor Eoin Holmes.

There were four independent candidates: Charlie Keddy, Mick Martin, Gerard O'Brien and Jim Tallon.

RTÉ debate

An RTÉ Prime Time television debate held on 25 March featured candidates from the four main parties: Fine Gael, Labour Party, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. The other candidates were excluded, including the Green Party, DDI and Workers' Party candidates. Workers' Party candidate Seamus McDonagh said the Prime Time editor had no "consistent criteria" for this decision, and criticised the lack of an invitation to even sit in the audience despite having, he said, the support of several TDs. DDI's Ben Gilroy said RTÉ "just basically ignored us completely."

Result

Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee finished first on the first count with 9,356 votes (38.5%), while Fianna Fáil's Thomas Byrne came second with 8,002 votes (32.9%). McEntee was elected on the third count with 11,473 votes. The Labour Party candidate Eoin Holmes, got 4.6%, down from 21.0% that Labour received at the 2011 general election, and finished fifth behind new party Direct Democracy Ireland.

It is the first time since 1975 that Fine Gael have won a by-election while in government.

References

References

  1. (5 March 2013). "Meath East by-election set for 27 March". [[RTÉ News]].
  2. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book.
  3. "Meath East – General Election: 25 February 2011". ElectionsIreland.org.
  4. (28 March 2013). "Meath East by-election 2013". [[RTÉ News]].
  5. (21 February 2013). "Parties set to choose Meath East by-election candidates". TheJournal.ie.
  6. (22 February 2013). "By-election picking up steam as parties select runners". The Meath Chronicle.
  7. (5 March 2013). "Ben Gilroy to Stand in Meath By-Election". Direct Democracy Ireland.
  8. (7 March 2013). "Helen McEntee to run for late father's seat in Meath East by-election". [[RTÉ News]].
  9. (9 March 2013). "Eoin Holmes to stand for Labour in Meath East". [[RTÉ News]].
  10. (13 March 2013). "11 candidates to contest Meath East by-election". [[RTÉ News]].
  11. (26 March 2013). "Prime Time criticised as candidates excluded from Meath East debate". The Journal.
  12. "Meath East by-election". ElectionsIreland.org.
  13. (28 March 2013). "Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election after third count". [[RTÉ News]].
  14. (29 March 2013). "Pressure on Gilmore over election disaster". [[Irish Independent]].
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2013-in-irish-politics 2013-elections-in-the-republic-of-ireland 31st-dáil dáil-by-elections elections-in-county-meath rté-controversies march-2013-in-europe
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