2016 Irish general election

Election to the 32nd Dáil

2016 Irish general election

* * *

| <- 2011 | 26 February 2016 | 2020 ->

|
|

<- outgoing members

elected members ->

* * *

158 seats in Dáil Éireann[a]
79 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout| 65.1%  4.8 pp
|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

|
|
|

Leader  | Enda Kenny | Micheál Martin | Gerry Adams
Party  | Fine Gael | Fianna Fáil | Sinn Féin
Leader since  | 2 June 2002 | 26 January 2011 | 13 November 1983[b]
Leader's seat  | Mayo | Cork South-Central | Louth
Last election  | 76 seats, 36.1%  | 20 seats, 17.4%  | 14 seats, 9.9%
Seats won  | 50 | 44  | 23
Seat change  |  26  |  24  |  9
Popular vote  | 544,140 | 519,356  | 295,319
Percentage  | 25.5% | 24.3%  | 13.8%
Swing  |  10.6 pp  |  6.9 pp  |  3.9 pp

* * *

| Fourth party  | Fifth party  | Sixth party

AAA–PBP

I4C

Leader  | Joan Burton | —  | —
Party  | Labour | AAA–PBP | Inds. 4 Change
Leader since  | 4 July 2014 | —  | —
Leader's seat  | Dublin West | —  | —
Last election  | 37 seats, 19.4%  | 4 seats, 2.2%[n 1] | Did not exist
Seats won  | 7  | 6  | 4
Seat change  |  30  |  2  |  4
Popular vote  | 140,898  | 84,168  | 31,365
Percentage  | 6.6%  | 3.9%  | 1.5%
Swing  |  12.8 pp  |  1.7 pp[n 1] | Did not exist

* * *

| Seventh party  | Eighth party  | Ninth party

Leader  | Catherine Murphy
Róisín Shortall
Stephen Donnelly | Eamon Ryan | Lucinda Creighton
Party  | Social Democrats | Green | Renua
Leader since  | 15 July 2015  | 27 May 2011  | 13 March 2015
Leader's seat  | Wicklow
Kildare North
Dublin North-West | Dublin Bay South | Dublin Bay South (defeated)
Last election  | Did not exist | 0 seats, 1.8%  | Did not exist
Seats won  | 3  | 2  | 0
Seat change  |  0  |  2  |  3
Popular vote  | 64,094  | 57,999  | 46,552
Percentage  | 3.0%  | 2.7%  | 2.2%
Swing  | New |  0.9 pp  | Did not exist

* * *

Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency.

Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency.

* * *

| Taoiseach before election

Enda Kenny
Fine Gael

| Taoiseach after election

Enda Kenny
Fine Gael

|

The 2016 Irish general election to the 32nd Dáil was held on Friday 26 February, following the dissolution of the 31st Dáil by President Michael D. Higgins on 3 February, at the request of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.[3] The general election took place in 40 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland to elect to elect 158 Teachtaí Dála to Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.[4] There was a reduction of eight seats under the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013. Fine Gael were returned to government as a minority administration.

Fine Gael, led by Kenny, lost 26 seats, but remained the largest party in the Dáil with 50 seats. The main opposition party Fianna Fáil, which in 2011 had suffered its worst-ever election result of 20 seats, increased to 44 seats. Sinn Féin became the third-largest party with 23 seats. The Labour Party, which had been the junior party in coalition government with Fine Gael and which had returned its best-ever showing of 37 seats in 2011, fell to just 7 seats, its lowest-ever share of Dáil seats at the time. Smaller parties and independent politicians made up the remaining 34 seats.[5][6]

The 32nd Dáil met on 10 March and elected a new Ceann Comhairle, the first to be elected by secret ballot, which was won by Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil. The Dáil proceeded to the nomination of Taoiseach, but no candidate received a majority. Kenny formally resigned as Taoiseach that same day, but remained as caretaker until a new government was formed.[7] Kenny sought an agreement with Fianna Fáil to form a government,[8] and negotiations continued through most of April. An agreement was finally reached in which Fianna Fáil would tolerate a Fine Gael–led minority government on 29 April, 63 days after the election, and the Dáil formally re-elected Kenny as Taoiseach on 6 May. Kenny was the first Taoiseach from Fine Gael to win re-election.[9]

Following the introduction of gender quotas, a record 35 seats were filled by women, bringing the proportion of women in the Dáil to 22 percent, up from 15 percent at the previous general election.

## Background

[edit]

The outgoing government was a Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition led by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton. Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit, Renua, Social Democrats, Workers and Unemployed Action, and independent non-party TDs formed the opposition in the Dáil. The government was formed on 9 March 2011, the first day of the 31st Dáil elected on 25 February 2011.[10]

Whereas the Constitution gives the President authority to dissolve the Dáil, under electoral law the precise date of polling is specified by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, who was Alan Kelly of Labour.[11] Electoral law required the 31st Dáil to be dissolved by 9 March 2016.[12] Kenny rejected predictions in October 2015 that he would call an election in November to capitalise on rising Fine Gael support.[13] In January 2016, media reported that Fine Gael and Labour respectively favoured Thursday 25 and Friday 26 February 2016 as the election date; Friday would facilitate voting by students registered to vote at their family home.[11][14][15]

After a cabinet meeting on 2 February, Kenny announced that he would be seeking a dissolution the following day. At 09:30 on 3 February he formally told the Dáil this, and that the new Dáil would meet on 10 March; the Dáil was adjourned without statements from the opposition.[16] At 09:58 while Kenny was en route to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet the President, the election date of 26 February was confirmed from his Twitter account. At 10:35 the President issued the proclamation dissolving the Dáil.[17] Later that day, Minister Kelly signed the order setting the polling day.[4] The writs of election are issued by the clerk of the Dáil.[18]

### New parties and alliances

[edit]

A number of parties and political alliances were formed during the lifespan of the 31st Dáil in order to contest the election:

* On 14 March 2014, the Independents for Equality Movement was registered as a political party by non-party TDs in advance of the 2014 local elections. Founded by Wexford TD Mick Wallace, it was renamed Independents 4 Change in October 2015. By the time the 31st Dáil was dissolved it counted among its members Wallace, Joan Collins, Clare Daly and Tommy Broughan, but all remained listed on the Dáil register as independent members of the house. All four members as well as one other councillor entered the election as Independents 4 Change candidates.[19]
* On 13 March 2015, Renua was founded by TDs and a Senator who had been expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party in 2013 for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill on anti-abortion grounds. Lucinda Creighton led this party into the election.[20]
* On 30 March 2015, the Independent Alliance was formed by non-party TDs and founded by Shane Ross and Michael Fitzmaurice. It was not a political party, and stated that it would not impose a whip except where the group had agreed to support a government on confidence motions.[21]
* On 15 July 2015, the Social Democrats were founded by Róisín Shortall, elected to the 31st Dáil as a Labour Party TD; Catherine Murphy, who was also a member of the Labour Party until 2003 but was elected to the 31st Dáil as an independent non-party TD, and Stephen Donnelly who was elected to the 31st Dáil as an independent non-party TD. All three entered the election as co-leaders of the Social Democrats.[22]
* In August 2015, Right2Change was launched as a broad political campaigning platform based on the Right2Water campaign that had been ongoing since 2014 against the introduction of water charges in Ireland. Right2Change produced a document of policy principles for "a progressive Irish government" and promoted a vote transfer pact, to which several bodies subscribed in advance of the 2016 election, including Sinn Féin, the People Before Profit Alliance, Workers and Unemployed Action, Direct Democracy Ireland, the Communist Party of Ireland; the individual TDs Joan Collins, Clare Daly, Thomas Pringle, Tommy Broughan and Mick Wallace; and the trade unions Unite the Union, the Communication Workers Union, and Mandate.
* On 6 October 2015, the Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit were founded as a registered party, to serve as an electoral alliance of the Anti-Austerity Alliance and the People Before Profit Alliance. They had contested the 2011 general election as separate parties, as the Socialist Party and the People Before Profit Alliance respectively, under the joint platform of the United Left Alliance (which had included the Workers and Unemployed Action Group and left wing independent politicians).[23]

### Gender quotas

[edit]

Part 6 of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 provides that parties will lose half of their state funding unless at least 30% of their candidates at the election are female and at least 30% are male.[24] All parties except Direct Democracy Ireland fulfilled this condition.[25] This contributed in part to the highest percentage of women elected to the Dáil; at 35 TDs, this was 22% of the 158 TDs, an increase from 15% at the previous general election.[26]

## Electoral system

[edit]

Constituencies for 2016 general election

Ireland uses proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR–STV).[27] The general election took place throughout the state to elect 158 members of Dáil Éireann, a reduction of 8 from the previous 166 members. This follows the passage of the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013. The Ceann Comhairle (speaker of the lower house of parliament) is automatically re-elected unless he opts to retire from the Dáil.[28] The election was held in 40 parliamentary constituencies.[29] Each multi-member constituency elects three, four or five Teachtaí Dála (Dáil deputies, lit. Assembly Deputies).[27]

The closing date for nominations was 11 February 2016. A total of 551 candidates contested the election, slightly down from the 566 that took part in the 2011 general election, a record figure.[4][30][31][32] The number of candidates for each party was: Fine Gael (88), Fianna Fáil (71), Sinn Féin (50), Green Party (40), Labour Party (36), Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit (31, of which 18 People Before Profit Alliance and 13 Anti-Austerity Alliance), Renua (26), Direct Democracy Ireland (19), Social Democrats (14), Independents 4 Change (5), Workers' Party (5), Catholic Democrats (3), Fís Nua (2), Irish Democratic Party (1), Communist Party of Ireland (1). Among the 159 independent candidates and others running without a party platform were 21 independents affiliated to the Independent Alliance, 19 independents affiliated to Right2Change, and the outgoing TD Séamus Healy, who was nominated as a non-party candidate for this election.[25][32][33] Voting took place between 07:00 and 22:00 (WET).[4]

Islands off the coast of Counties Donegal, Mayo, and Galway voted one day earlier.[34] All resident Irish and British citizens were eligible to be on the Dáil electoral register.[4] The 2016–17 register was published on 1 February by the local authorities, who were responsible for maintaining it. Applications for the supplementary register for the general election closed on 9 February,[4] with 30,185 names added.[35]

## Retiring incumbents

[edit]

The following members of the 31st Dáil announced in advance of the poll that they would not be seeking re-election:

Constituency  | Departing TD  | Party

|
|

Cork East | Sandra McLellan[36] |  | Sinn Féin
Donegal South-West | Dinny McGinley[37] |  | Fine Gael
Dublin Mid-West | Robert Dowds[38] |  | Labour
Dublin North-East | Seán Kenny[39] |  | Labour
Dublin South | Olivia Mitchell[40] |  | Fine Gael
Dublin South-Central | Michael Conaghan[41] |  | Labour
Dublin South-East | Ruairi Quinn[42] |  | Labour
Dublin South-West | Pat Rabbitte[43] |  | Labour
Dublin West | Joe Higgins[44] |  | Socialist Party
Dún Laoghaire | Eamon Gilmore[45] |  | Labour
Galway East | Michael P. Kitt[46] |  | Fianna Fáil
Galway West | Brian Walsh[47] |  | Fine Gael
Kerry South | Tom Fleming[48] |  | Independent
Kildare South | Jack Wall[49] |  | Labour
Limerick | Dan Neville[50] |  | Fine Gael
Louth | Séamus Kirk[51] |  | Fianna Fáil
Roscommon–South Leitrim | Frank Feighan[52] |  | Fine Gael
Sligo–North Leitrim | Michael Colreavy[53] |  | Sinn Féin
Wexford | John Browne[54] |  | Fianna Fáil
Wexford | Liam Twomey[55] |  | Fine Gael

## Campaign

[edit]

Election posters in Cork South-Central

The campaign officially began after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann on 3 February 2016 and lasted until polling day on 26 February 2016. During the campaign, official election posters are permitted in locations which would otherwise constitute litter; some candidates were reported to have illegally erected posters too soon.[56][57] The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's moratorium on election coverage lasted from 14:00 on 25 February 2016 until polls had closed.[58][59]

### Party manifestos and slogans

[edit]

Party/group | Manifesto (external link) | Other slogan(s)

|
|

Fine Gael | Let's Keep the Recovery Going | "Your hard work is working"[60]
Fianna Fáil | An Ireland for All |
Sinn Féin | Better with Sinn Féin |
Labour Party | Standing Up for Ireland's Future | "Standing up for working families"[61][62]
AAA–PBP (combined)  | Common Principles: Radical Alternatives and Real Equality[c] | "A voice for people power, share the wealth"[63]
(AAA)  | Real Change not Spare Change[c] |
(PBP)  | Share the Wealth: An Alternative Vision for Ireland[c] |
Social Democrats | Building a Better Future 2016–2026 |
Green Party | Think Ahead, Act Now |
Independent Alliance | Charter for Government 2016 |
Renua | Rewarding Work Rebuilding Trust |
Direct Democracy Ireland | Returning the power to you |
Workers' Party | Take a Step in a New Direction

### Television debates

[edit]

RTÉ set a minimum of three TDs for a party to be invited to its 15 February debate.[64] The Green Party, which had no TDs (having lost them all in 2011), took an unsuccessful High Court case against the exclusion of its leader Eamon Ryan.[64][65] An Irish language debate, moderated by Eimear Ní Chonaola was to be broadcast on TG4 on 17 February, but was cancelled due to the weak proficiency in that language of Adams and Burton. Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) and Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin) were suggested as fluent replacements, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael insisted that a leaders' debate should be confined to party leaders only.[66][67] TG4 instead broadcast successive one-to-one interviews with each party's representative.[68] There was also a "live audience discussion" on RTÉ Two on 21 February featuring Timmy Dooley (FF), Mary Lou McDonald (SF), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour), Averil Power (non-party), Eamon Ryan (Greens), Leo Varadkar (FG), and Adrienne Wallace (AAA-PBP). The discussion was hosted by Keelin Shanley at Facebook's Dublin office and featured questions submitted via Facebook and Twitter.[69] There was some controversy surrounding this debate as a representative of special needs parents said she was to appear to ask a question on waiting lists only to be told by RTÉ later that the topic would not be covered.[70]

2016 Irish general election debates[71][72][73]

Date | Broadcaster | Moderator(s) | Participants — Name Participant  N Party not invited | Notes
AAA–PBP | Fianna Fáil | Fine Gael | Labour | Renua | Sinn Féin | Social Democrats
8 February  | RTÉ | Claire Byrne | N | McGrath | Noonan | Howlin | N | Doherty | N | Finance spokespersons. 50 minutes.[74]
11 February  | TV3 | Colette Fitzpatrick
Pat Kenny | N | Martin | Kenny | Burton | N | Adams | N | Party leaders. 80 minutes.[75]
15 February  | RTÉ | Claire Byrne | Boyd Barrett | Martin | Kenny | Burton | Creighton | Adams | Donnelly |  Party leaders.[d] 115 minutes.[78]
15 February  | TV3 | Mick Clifford  | N | Cowen | Reilly | Kelly | N | McDonald | N | Deputy leaders.[e] 60 minutes.[79]
17 February  | TG4 | Eimear Ní Chonaola | Cancelled | Planned leaders debate in Irish[66]
22 February  | RTÉ | Claire Byrne | N | Kelleher | Varadkar | Lynch | N | Ó Caoláin | N | Health spokespersons.[f] 60 minutes.[80]
23 February  | RTÉ | Miriam O'Callaghan | N | Martin | Kenny | Burton | N | Adams | N | Party leaders. 85 minutes.[81][82]

## Opinion polls

[edit]

Main article: Opinion polling for the 2016 Irish general election

## Results

[edit]

See also: Members of the 32nd Dáil

Polling results for the 2016 Irish general election, compared to the actual result The party that received the most 1st preference votes (for all their candidates) in each constituency.

Counting of votes began at 09:00 UTC on Saturday 27 February 2016 and continued over the course of the weekend and into the following week, with the final two seats, in Longford–Westmeath, announced after multiple recounts at 05:30 UTC on Thursday 3 March.[83][84]

It was Fine Gael's lowest number of seats since the 2002 general election, the election that led to Kenny becoming leader (the outgoing finance minister in 2016, Michael Noonan, had been Fine Gael's leader in 2002.) They performed especially poorly outside Dublin, dropping from 59 seats to 36; in Dublin the party fared better, going from 17 to 14 for a net loss of only three. Indeed, Fine Gael became the largest party in the capital for the first time since November 1982, and won seats in every constituency in Dublin for the first time since 1987. Fianna Fáil more than doubled the number of seats that they had coming into the election. Having been without representation in Dublin since the death of Brian Lenihan in 2011, Fianna Fáil managed to win six seats in the capital this time. Sinn Féin recorded their strongest showing under Adams to become the third party, making gains in Leinster and in urban areas of Munster, mostly at the expense of the Labour Party. Labour won their lowest vote share since 1987, and their lowest share of seats ever. Despite speculation that she would lose her seat, Joan Burton became the first sitting Tánaiste to avoid defeat at a general election since Mary Harney in 2002.[85] Labour's vote collapse meant that not until the Longford–Westmeath result did they reach the seven-seat threshold to qualify as a parliamentary group with full speaking rights under current Dáil rules.[83]

The combined vote of 49.8 per cent for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil was a record low for the two largest parties in the Dáil, eclipsing the previous record of 53.6 per cent set by Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil in June 1927. It was the first time the vote for Ireland's two traditionally dominant parties had fallen below 50 per cent in a general election. Fine Gael became the largest party in the Dáil with just 25.5 per cent of the vote, the lowest percentage ever for a first party.

Party  | Fine Gael | Fianna Fáil | Sinn Féin | Labour | AAA–PBP | I4C | Social Democrats | Green

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leader  | Enda Kenny | Micheál Martin | Gerry Adams | Joan Burton | None | None | Stephen Donnelly
Catherine Murphy
Róisín Shortall | Eamon Ryan
Votes, 1st pref.  | 25.5%
544,230  | 24.3%
519,353  | 13.8%
295,313  | 6.6%
140,893  | 3.9%
84,168  | 1.5%
31,365  | 3.0%
64,094  | 2.7%
57,997

Seats  | 50[a] (31.5%)  | 44 (28%)  | 23 (14.5%)  | 7 (4.5%)  | 6 (4%)  | 4 (2.5%)  | 3 (2%)  | 2 (1%)

↓  50[a] | 44 | 23 | 19[n 2] | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Fine Gael | Fianna Fáil | Sinn Féin | Inds | Lab | AAA PBP |  |  |

First preference vote share of different parties in the election.

Fine Gael (25.5%)

Fianna Fáil (24.3%)

Sinn Féin (13.8%)

Labour Party (6.6%)

AAA–PBP (3.9%)

Social Democrats (3.0%)

Green Party (2.7%)

Renua (2.2%)

Independents 4 Change (1.5%)

Other (16.5%)

Election to the 32nd Dáil – 26 February 2016[86][87][88]

Party  | Leader  | First Preference Votes  | Seats
Votes  | % FPv  | Swing%  | Candidates
[89] | Elected
2011[89] | Outgoing
[n 3]
| Elected
2016[90] | Change
[n 4] | % of
seats
| Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | 544,230  | 25.5  | 10.6  | 88  | 76  | 67  |

50 / 158 (32%)

| 26  | 31.6
| Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 519,353  | 24.3  | 6.9  | 71  | 20  | 21  |

44 / 158 (28%)

| 25  | 27.8
| Sinn Féin | Gerry Adams | 295,313  | 13.8  | 3.9  | 50  | 14  | 14  |

23 / 158 (15%)

| 9  | 14.6
| Labour | Joan Burton | 140,893  | 6.6  | 12.8  | 36  | 37  | 33  |

7 / 158 (4%)

| 30  | 4.4
| AAA–PBP

•People Before Profit Alliance
•Anti-Austerity Alliance

| None | 84,168

42,174
41,994 | 3.9

2.0
1.9 | 1.7[n 1]

1.0
new | 31

13 | 4[n 1]

new | 4  |

6 / 158 (4%)

3 / 158 (2%)
3 / 158 (2%) | 2

new | 3.8

1.9
1.9
| Social Democrats | Catherine Murphy
Róisín Shortall
Stephen Donnelly | 64,094  | 3.0  | 3.0[n 5] | 14  | N/A[n 6] | 3  |

3 / 158 (2%)

| 3  | 1.9
| Green | Eamon Ryan | 57,997  | 2.7  | 0.9  | 40  | 0  | 0  |

2 / 158 (1%)

| 2  | 1.3
| Renua | Lucinda Creighton | 46,552  | 2.2  | 2.2[n 5] | 26  | N/A[n 6] | 3  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Inds. 4 Change[n 7] | None | 31,365  | 1.5  | 1.5[n 5] | 5  | N/A[n 6] | 4  |

4 / 158 (3%)

| 4  | 2.5
| Direct Democracy | Pat Greene | 6,481  | 0.3  | 0.3[n 5] | 19  | N/A[n 6] | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Workers' Party | Michael Donnelly | 3,242  | 0.2  | <0.05[n 8] | 5  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Catholic Democrats | Nora Bennis | 2,013  | 0.1  | 0.1[n 9] | 3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Fís Nua | None | 1,224  | 0.1  | <0.05[n 10] | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Irish Democratic | Ken Smollen | 971  | <0.05  | <0.05[n 5] | 1  | N/A[n 6] | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Communist | Eugene McCartan | 185  | <0.05  | <0.05[n 11] | 1 | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Identity Ireland | Peter O'Loughlin | 183  | <0.05  | <0.05[n 5] | 1  | N/A[n 6] | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Independent Alliance[n 7] | None | 88,930[n 7] | 4.2[n 7] | 4.2[n 7][n 5] | 21[n 7] | N/A[n 6] | 5[n 7] |

6 / 158 (4%)

| 6[n 7] | 3.8[n 7]
| Independent[n 7] | —  | 249,285[n 7] | 11.7[n 7] | 1.3[n 7] | 136[n 7] | 14  | 11[n 12] |

13 / 158 (8%)

| 1[n 7] | 8.2[n 7]
| Vacant | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 1[n 13] | —  | —  | —
Total  | 2,151,293  | 100%  | —  | 552[89][n 14] | 166  | 166  | 158  | 8  | 100%
Total Electorate/Turnout: 3,305,110 (65.1%); Spoilt votes: 18,398

1. ^ a b c d Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit (AAA–PBP) was formed in 2015 by the AAA and PBP, and the AAA was formed in 2012 by the Socialist Party. The 2011 seats and votes figures used for comparison are the combined votes and seats of Socialist Party and PBP candidates.
2. ^ The 19 seats for independents includes 6 seats for politicians participating in the Independent Alliance, which is not a political party, and 13 seats for other independents, but not the 4 seats for Independents 4 Change, which is a registered political party.
3. ^ TDs in the party at the 2016 dissolution of the 31st Dáil
4. ^ Change in number of seats from the 2011 election to the 2016 election
5. ^ a b c d e f g This is a new party or group, created after the 2011 general election, so all its votes are counted as a gain.
6. ^ a b c d e f g Party was founded after the 2011 election
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Data for 2016 under "Independents" excludes both Independents 4 Change, which was a registered party, and the Independent Alliance and Identity Ireland, which were not. Most members of all these groups were classified as "Independents" in 2011.
8. ^ The Workers' Party got 3,056 votes in 2011 (out of a total vote of 2,220,359).
9. ^ Although not a new party (though a party with a new name since 2012), the Catholic Democrats fielded no candidates in 2011, so all their votes are counted as a gain. A different party, the Christian Solidarity Party, which was removed from the official register of political parties in 2014, got 2,102 votes in 2011 (out of a total vote of 2,220,359).
10. ^ Fís Nua got 938 votes in 2011 (out of a total vote of 2,220,359).
11. ^ Although not a new party, the Communist Party of Ireland fielded no candidates in 2011, so all its votes are counted as a gain.
12. ^ This total includes Séamus Healy, who was elected for Workers and Unemployed Action in 2011, but re-elected as an Independent in 2016.
13. ^ One seat was vacant at the dissolution, after the resignation of Brian Walsh for health reasons on 14 January 2016.
14. ^ Figure of 551 excluding the Ceann Comhairle who is returned automatically.[30]

### Voting summary

[edit]

| First preference vote

|  |
Fine Gael |

| 25.47%
Fianna Fáil |

| 24.31%
Sinn Féin |

| 13.82%
Labour |

| 6.60%
AAA–PBP |

| 3.94%
Social Democrats |

| 3.00%
Green |

| 2.71%
Renua |

| 2.18%
Independents 4 Change |

| 1.47%
Others |

| 0.66%
Independent Alliance |

| 4.16%
Independent |

| 11.67%

### Seats summary

[edit]

| Dáil seats

|  |
Fine Gael |

| 31.65%
Fianna Fáil |

| 27.85%
Sinn Féin |

| 14.56%
Labour |

| 4.43%
AAA–PBP |

| 3.80%
Independents 4 Change |

| 2.53%
Social Democrats |

| 1.90%
Green |

| 1.27%
Independent Alliance |

| 3.80%
Independent |

| 8.23%

### TDs who lost their seats

[edit]

Party  | Seats lost  | Name  | Constituency  | Other offices held  | Year elected

|
|
|
|
|

| Fine Gael |

| James Bannon[91] | Longford–Westmeath |  | 2007
Tom Barry[92] | Cork East |  | 2011
Ray Butler | Meath West |  | 2011
Jerry Buttimer[93] | Cork South-Central |  | 2011
Paudie Coffey[94] | Waterford | Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government | 2011
Áine Collins[95] | Cork North-West |  | 2011
Paul Connaughton Jnr[96] | Galway East |  | 2011
Noel Coonan[97] | Tipperary |  | 2007
Jimmy Deenihan[98] | Kerry | Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs | 1987
Noel Harrington[99] | Cork South-West |  | 2011
Tom Hayes[100] | Tipperary |  | 2001
Derek Keating | Dublin Mid-West |  | 2011
Anthony Lawlor | Kildare North |  | 2011
Gabrielle McFadden | Longford–Westmeath |  | 2014
Michelle Mulherin | Mayo |  | 2011
Kieran O'Donnell[101] | Limerick City |  | 2007
John O'Mahony | Galway West |  | 2007
Joe O'Reilly | Cavan–Monaghan |  | 2011
John Perry[102] | Sligo–Leitrim |  | 1997
James Reilly[103] | Dublin Fingal | Minister for Children and Youth Affairs | 2007
Alan Shatter[104] | Dublin South |  | 1981[g]
| Labour |

| Eric Byrne[105] | Dublin South-Central |  | 1989[h]
Ciara Conway | Waterford |  | 2011
Joe Costello[106] | Dublin Central |  | 1992[i]
Anne Ferris[107] | Wicklow |  | 2011
Dominic Hannigan[108] | Meath East |  | 2011
Kevin Humphreys[109] | Dublin Bay South | Minister of State for
Employment, Community and Social Support | 2011
Ciarán Lynch[110] | Cork South-Central |  | 2007
Kathleen Lynch[111] | Cork North-Central | Minister of State for
Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability | 1994[j]
John Lyons[112] | Dublin North-West |  | 2011
Michael McCarthy[99] | Cork South-West |  | 2011
Michael McNamara[113] | Clare |  | 2011
Ged Nash[114] | Louth | Minister of State for
Business and Employment | 2011
Derek Nolan[115] | Galway West |  | 2011
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin[116] | Dublin Bay North | Minister of State for
New Communities, Culture and Equality | 2011
Ann Phelan | Carlow–Kilkenny |  | 2011
Arthur Spring[117] | Kerry |  | 2011
Emmet Stagg[118] | Kildare North |  | 1987
Joanna Tuffy[119] | Dublin Mid-West |  | 2007
Alex White[120] | Dublin Rathdown | Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | 2011
| Renua |

| Lucinda Creighton[121][122] | Dublin Bay South |  | 2007[k]
Terence Flanagan | Dublin Bay North |  | 2007[l]
Billy Timmins | Wicklow |  | 1997[m]
| Fianna Fáil |

| Colm Keaveney[123] | Galway East |  | 2011
| Sinn Féin |

| Pádraig Mac Lochlainn[124][125] | Donegal |  | 2011
| Independent |

| Seán Conlan | Cavan–Monaghan |  | 2011[n]
Eamonn Maloney | Dublin South-West |  | 2011[o]
Peter Mathews | Dublin Rathdown |  | 2011[p]
Total  | 48  | —  | —  | —  | —

1. ^ a b c Including Seán Barrett (FG), returned automatically for Dún Laoghaire as outgoing Ceann Comhairle, under Art. 16.6 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 1992.[1][2]
2. ^ Gerry Adams became President of Sinn Féin on 13 November 1983, but only became parliamentary leader of Sinn Féin in the Dáil once elected to the Dáil for the first time in February 2011. Prior to that its parliamentary leader in the Dáil since 1997 was Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
3. ^ a b c AAA–PBP issued a joint "statement of common principles"; each of its two components issued a separate manifesto
4. ^ The Social Democrats were represented by one of their three TDs, who are interim co-leaders.[76] The AAA–PBP have no leader and nominated Richard Boyd Barrett of PBP, one of their four TDs.[77]
5. ^ Fianna Fáil have had no deputy leader since Éamon Ó Cuív resigned the post in 2012. The party nominated Barry Cowen for the deputy leaders' debate.
6. ^ Non-party candidate Denis Naughten was also included as a participant.
7. ^ Shatter lost his seat in 2002 but regained it in 2007.
8. ^ Byrne lost his seat in 1992 but regained it in 1994, lost it again in 1997 but regained it in 2011.
9. ^ Costello lost his seat in 1997 but regained it in 2002.
10. ^ Lynch lost her seat in 1997 but regained it in 2002.
11. ^ Creighton was elected as Fine Gael.
12. ^ Flanagan was elected as Fine Gael.
13. ^ Timmins was elected as Fine Gael.
14. ^ Conlan was elected as Fine Gael.
15. ^ Maloney was elected as Labour.
16. ^ Mathews was elected as Fine Gael.

## Government formation

[edit]

Main article: 2016 Irish government formation

Enda Kenny immediately conceded that the outgoing coalition government of Fine Gael and Labour would be unable to continue. Fine Gael was 29 seats short of a majority, leading to speculation of a possibility of a grand coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, of a minority government, or of another general election later in 2016.[126] Talks to form a government got underway in March.

On 29 April, after 63 days of negotiation and three failed votes for Taoiseach, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil reached an agreement about a Fine Gael minority government.[9] In the days following, Fine Gael negotiated a deal with Independent TDs on the formation of a minority coalition. Enda Kenny was re-elected Taoiseach on 6 May 2016.

## Seanad election

[edit]

The Dáil election was followed by the election to the 25th Seanad.

## Notes, citations and sources

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

### References

[edit]

1. ^ Electoral Act 1980, s. 36: Re-election of outgoing Chairman of Dáil (No. 23 of 1980, s. 36). Enacted on 23 December 1980. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
2. ^ "Dún Laoghaire: 2016 general election". Irish Elections. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
3. ^ "President Higgins dissolves 31st Dáil". Irish Times. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Minister Kelly signs Polling Day Order" (Press release). Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
5. ^ "Peter Burke and Willie Penrose elected in Longford–Westmeath". The Irish Times. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
6. ^ Dan MacGuill (3 March 2016). "Labour just had the worst election in its 104-year history". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
7. ^ "Enda Kenny to continue as caretaker Taoiseach". RTÉ.ie. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
8. ^ "Enda Kenny confirms he'll contact Fianna Fáil about formation of new government on Friday". Independent.ie. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
9. ^ a b Doyle, Kevin. "Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil finally reach minority government deal - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Independent (Ireland). Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
10. ^ "Enda Kenny reveals new Cabinet". RTÉ News. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
11. ^ a b Ryan, Philip; Horan, Niamh; O'Connor, Niall (31 January 2015). "Six Nations match at the centre of row over election date". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
12. ^ "Electoral Act, 1992". Office of the Attorney General. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
13. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (12 October 2015). "Why nobody is a winner after Enda forgoes a cheeky election". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
14. ^ D'Arcy, Ciarán (1 February 2016). "Taoiseach expected to announce election date on Tuesday". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
15. ^ Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra (30 January 2016). "General Election date may come down to rugby and students". BreakingNews.ie. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
16. ^ "Advice to Dissolve Dáil: Announcement". Dáil Éireann debates. Oireachtas. 3 February 2016. p. 3\. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
17. ^ "The Dáil has been dissolved at Áras an Uachtaráin". Irish Examiner. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
18. ^ "Electoral Act, 1992, Section 39". Irish Statute Book. 5 November 1992. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
19. ^ "Independents 4 Change". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
20. ^ "Here's everything we know about Renua (and its policies)". TheJournal.ie. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
21. ^ Kelly, Fiach (28 March 2015). "Independents alliance 'keeping options open' ahead of election". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
22. ^ Minihan, Mary (15 July 2015). "Independents launch Social Democrats political party". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
23. ^ McGee, Harry (9 October 2015). "People Before Profit and the Anti Austerity Alliance – spot the difference". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
24. ^ "Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 Section 42". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
25. ^ a b "Candidates for the 2016 General Election (by constituency)". Irish Elections: Geography, Facts and Analyses. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
26. ^ Minihan, Mary (3 March 2016). "First election under gender quotas yields 35 women TDs". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
27. ^ a b "Proportional Representation – Information". Irish Citizens Information Board. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
28. ^ "Constitution of Ireland". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General's office. August 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016., Article 16.6; "Electoral Act, 1992". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General's office. 5 November 1992. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016., section 36.
29. ^ "Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General's office. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
30. ^ a b "551 candidates set to contest election". RTÉ.ie. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
31. ^ "551 candidates set to contest election as nomination deadline passes". RTÉ News. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
32. ^ a b Gallagher, Michael (10 February 2011). "Information about Ireland election 26 February 2016". Department of Political Science, Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
33. ^ Delehanty, Mary (2 March 2016). "Dáil General Election 2016 – Constituency of Tipperary Results Sheet" (PDF). Tipperary Returning Officer. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
34. ^ "Islanders voting in General Election". RTÉ.ie. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
35. ^ Quann, Jack (25 February 2016). "More than 30,000 people added to supplementary register for GE16 – Newstalk". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
36. ^ "Sinn Féin Cork East TD Sandra McLellan will not contest election". RTÉ News. 10 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
37. ^ "McHugh replaces McGinley in Cabinet reshuffle". Donegal Democrat. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
38. ^ "Robert Dowds decides not to contest general election". Irish Times. 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
39. ^ "Here are all the Labour TDs stepping down at the next election". TheJournal.ie. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
40. ^ "Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell confirms she will stand down". The Irish Times. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
41. ^ "Labour TD confirms he will not contest next general election". The Irish Times. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
42. ^ "Quinn quits as minister and set to leave Dail". Evening Herald. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
43. ^ "Pat Rabbitte will NOT be contesting the next general election". TheJournal.ie. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
44. ^ "Joe Higgins TD 'not retiring' from politics despite deciding against running in election". Irish Independent. 27 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
45. ^ "Eamon Gilmore to retire from politics at next election". The Irish Times. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
46. ^ "Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt retires from politics". The Irish Times. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
47. ^ "Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh will not contest the next election". The Irish Times. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
48. ^ "Tom Fleming pulls out of General Election race". Radio Kerry. 5 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
49. ^ "Kildare South to open up as Labour stalwart Jack Wall retires from Dáil". The Irish Independent. 11 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
50. ^ "Dan Neville surprises Fine Gael by saying he will not contest general election". Irish Independent. 11 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
51. ^ "Louth TD Kirk will not contest next general election". Irish Examiner. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
52. ^ "TD Frank Feighan will not contest next general election". Irish Independent. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
53. ^ "Sinn Féin TD Michael Colreavy will not contest next election". The Irish Times. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
54. ^ "Fianna Fáil TD John Browne will not contest the next election". The Irish Times. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
55. ^ "Liam Twomey will not contest general election". The Irish Times. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
56. ^ Pollak, Sorcha (2 February 2016). "Strong winds reveal early election posters' true colours". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
57. ^ O’Sullivan, Jason (4 February 2016). "The primitive power of election posters cannot be underestimated". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
58. ^ "Rule 27 Guidelines General Election Coverage". Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. November 2015. pp. 8–9\. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.8-9&rft.pub=Broadcasting+Authority+of+Ireland&rft.date=2015-11&rft_id=http://www.bai.ie/?ddownload=128506#page=8&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:2016+Irish+general+election" class="Z3988">
59. ^ "Parties make final appeal ahead of moratorium". RTÉ.ie. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
60. ^ "Taoiseach promises USC cut – for higher earners – if re-elected". Breaking News. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
61. ^ "Political parties step up pre-election campaigning". RTÉ.ie. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
62. ^ "€2 an hour for childcare puts parents on a wage of €2 an hour". www.irishexaminer.com. 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
63. ^ "People Before Profit on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
64. ^ a b "Court told RTÉ leaders' debate rule 'unlawful'". RTÉ.ie. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
65. ^ "Green Party loses bid to be included in RTÉ debate". RTÉ.ie. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
66. ^ a b McGee, Harry (14 February 2016). "TG4 debate in Irish cancelled over Joan Burton's and Gerry Adams' lack of fluency". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
67. ^ "Kenny to take part in TV3 leaders' debate | The Times". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
68. ^ McGee, Harry (18 February 2016). "Fine Gael shows signs of urgency – or is it panic?". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
69. ^ "Social issues dominate Election Special". RTÉ.ie. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
70. ^ McMahon, Aine (22 February 2016). "Special needs parents claim they were left out of Facebook general election special". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
71. ^ "Green Party objects to 'exclusion' from RTÉ debates". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
72. ^ "RTÉ Unveils Election 2016 TV and Digital Campaign Coverage | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
73. ^ "TV3 to host first party leaders' debate on Thursday". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
74. ^ "Claire Byrne Live: The Big Picture". www.rte.ie. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
75. ^ "FactCheck: The truth and the lies from last night's Leaders' Debate". The Journal. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
76. ^ O'Connor, Niall (15 February 2016). "Donnelly to be Soc Dems 'leader' in debate – Independent.ie". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
77. ^ McGee, Harry (16 February 2016). "Election 2016: Five things we learned from the leaders' debate". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016. "the three leaders (two nominated) of smaller parties"
78. ^ "The RTÉ Leaders Debate: as it happened". The Journal. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
79. ^ O’Brien, Stephen (14 February 2016). "TV3: Browne not sacrificed for Kenny". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
80. ^ "Claire Byrne Live: The Big Picture". www.rte.ie. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
81. ^ "Watch Prime Time Leaders' Debate online". RTÉ Player. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
82. ^ "As it happened: Leaders' Debate". RTÉ.ie. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
83. ^ a b Tuite, Tom (3 March 2016). "Longford–Westmeath: James Bannon eliminated after marathon count". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
84. ^ "THE WINNERS: These are all the TDs that have been elected". The Journal. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
85. ^ Doyle, Kevin (11 February 2016). "Joan Burton staring at end of political career". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
86. ^ "32nd DÁIL GENERAL ELECTION 26 February 2016 Election Results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
87. ^ "Election 2016 National Summary". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
88. ^ "Election 2016 Results | The Irish Times". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
89. ^ a b c Gallagher, Michael. "Information about Ireland election 26 February 2016 –". Political Science Department –. Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
90. ^ "Election 2016: Results hub". Irish Times. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
91. ^ "Longford–Westmeath: James Bannon eliminated after marathon count". Independent.ie. 2 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
92. ^ Cork East results: Count finished with Labour, FG, FF and SF taking seats Archived 11 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine irishtimes
93. ^ "Buttimer loses out as Sinn Féin scores historic win in Cork South Central". Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
94. ^ "Waterford: Fine Gael's John Deasy pips Paudie Coffey for final seat". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
95. ^ "Cork North-West: Role reversal as two Fianna Fail candidates come home". Independent.ie. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
96. ^ Galway East results: Cannon, Canney and Rabbitte take seats Archived 28 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine irishtimes
97. ^ "Independents' day in Tipp forces Kelly to limp home with fifth seat". Independent.ie. March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
98. ^ "Kerry: Healy-Rae brothers go on 'victory tour' of the Kingdom". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
99. ^ a b Labour's Michael McCarthy loses seat as does Noel Harrington from Fine Gael Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Irish times
100. ^ Patrick Donohoe (1 March 2016). "General election 2016: the farmer votes". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
101. ^ "Limerick's Live95FM - Article". Live95. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
102. ^ "Anglo Celt - Sligo–Leitrim: Perry loses seat after 19 years as deputy". Anglo Celt. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
103. ^ Daragh Brophy (28 February 2016). "James Reilly loses Dáil seat, says he will now consider his future in politics". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
104. ^ Christina Finn (27 February 2016). "Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter loses Dáil seat". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
105. ^ "Labour Party in danger of losing some of its longest-serving TDs". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
106. ^ "VIDEO: Labour's Joe Costello - 'The people have punished us'". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
107. ^ "Anne Ferris: 'I'm keeping my election posters in case we go back to the polls in three months'". Independent.ie. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
108. ^ "Meath East: 'Comeback kid' Thomas Byrne (FF) succeeds in retaking lost seat as Fine Gael hang on to two". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
109. ^ "Seanad bids by 3 former Labour ministers of state". Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
110. ^ "Cork South-Central: Jerry Buttimer and Ciaran Lynch lose out in the 'Constituency of Death'". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
111. ^ "Cork North-Central: Veteran Kathleen Lynch loses seat as opposition offers 'alternative' to Fine Gael". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
112. ^ Labour TD John Lyons is eliminated on the eighth count Archived 28 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine irishtimes
113. ^ "Clare: 'I look forward to the day you lose your seat' - Labour TD Michael McNamara raises doubts about running again". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
114. ^ "Louth: 'Working people will have a greatly weakened voice' - Labour Minister Ged Nash loses seat". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
115. ^ "Galway Independent - Labour's Derek Nolan loses seat". Galway Independent. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
116. ^ "[News] Labour's Aodhan O Riordain loses his sea ... - Veooz 360". Veooz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
117. ^ RadioKerry. "Arthur Spring loses seat". Radio Kerry. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
118. ^ "Kildare North: Labour suffers whitewash as Emmet Stagg loses seat he won in 1997". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
119. ^ "Labour TD who faces loss of seat jokes 'I might write a screenplay'". Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
120. ^ "Communications Minister Alex White loses seat but backs Joan Burton". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
121. ^ Sinead O'Carroll (27 February 2016). "Renua leader Lucinda Creighton has lost her Dáil seat". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
122. ^ "Renua could be finished before they got started as Creighton..." newstalk.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
123. ^ "Galway East: Colm Keaveney high profile casualty as Independent Sean Canney tops poll". Independent.ie. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
124. ^ "Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport » Breaking – Thomas Pringle elected to Dáil Eireann – Padraig Mac Lochlainn loses seat". 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
125. ^ donegal daily (March 2016). "LABOUR POLITICIAN LOSES SEAT AND SAYS HE IS 'DEVASTATED' PADRAIG MAC LOCHLAINN NO LONGER IN DÁIL - Donegal Daily". Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
126. ^ "Live blog: Republic's General Election 2016 results". The Irish News. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.

### Further reading

[edit]

* Barrett, David (2016). "Irish general election 2016 report: whither the party system?". Irish Political Studies. 31 (3): 418–431\. doi:10.1080/07907184.2016.1195814. S2CID 157878313.418-431&rft.date=2016&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/07907184.2016.1195814&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:157878313#id-name=S2CID&rft.aulast=Barrett&rft.aufirst=David&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:2016+Irish+general+election" class="Z3988">
* Culloty, Eileen, and Jane Suiter. "Journalism Norms and the Absence of Media Populism in the Irish General Election 2016." in Mediated Campaigns and Populism in Europe (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2019) pp. 51–74.
* Kusche, Isabel (2017). "Constituency orientation in Irish politics: video statements of the candidates in the Irish general election 2016". Irish Political Studies. 32 (3): 498–520\. doi:10.1080/07907184.2017.1325362. S2CID 148869328.498-520&rft.date=2017&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/07907184.2017.1325362&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:148869328#id-name=S2CID&rft.aulast=Kusche&rft.aufirst=Isabel&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1080%2F07907184.2017.1325362&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:2016+Irish+general+election" class="Z3988">
* Little, Conor (2017). "The Irish general election of February 2016: towards a new politics or an early election?" (PDF). West European Politics. 40 (2): 479–488\. doi:10.1080/01402382.2016.1216507. S2CID 158008268.479-488&rft.date=2017&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/01402382.2016.1216507&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:158008268#id-name=S2CID&rft.aulast=Little&rft.aufirst=Conor&rft_id=https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/6651/Little2016IrelandWEP_AcceptedManuscript.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:2016+Irish+general+election" class="Z3988">

### External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2016 Dáil Éireann elections.

* Election 2016 news coverage at Raidió Teilifís Éireann
* Election 2016 news coverage at The Irish Times
* Election 2016 news coverage at the Irish Independent

* v
* t
* e

Politics of the Republic of Ireland

Constitution|

* Amendments

Presidency|

* President: Michael D. Higgins
* Council of State
* Presidential Commission

Government|

* Cabinet
* Taoiseach: Micheál Martin
* Tánaiste: Simon Harris
* Departments of State
* Public service
* Civil Service
* State Agencies
* Attorney General: Rossa Fanning

Oireachtas|

* Dáil Éireann
* Ceann Comhairle: Verona Murphy
* Seanad Éireann
* Cathaoirleach: Jerry Buttimer
* Opposition
* Leader: Mary Lou McDonald
* Committees

Courts|

* Supreme Court
* Chief Justice: Donal O'Donnell
* Court of Appeal
* President: Caroline Costello
* High Court
* President: David Barniville
* Special Criminal Court
* Circuit Court
* President: Patricia Ryan
* District Court
* President: Paul Kelly

Elections|

* Constituencies
* Political parties
* By-elections
* Electoral Commission

Recent elections|

* General: 2016
* 2020
* 2024

* Presidential: 2011
* 2018
* 2025

* Local: 2014
* 2019
* 2024

* European: 2014
* 2019
* 2024

Administrative geography|

* Counties
* Local government

Foreign relations|

* Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister: Simon Harris
* Irish neutrality

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Ireland

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* * *

* Ireland–United Kingdom relations
* Politics of Northern Ireland
* Good Friday Agreement
* Ireland–UK border
* Brexit and the Irish border
* British–Irish Council

* * *

* Australia–Ireland relations
* Ireland–New Zealand relations
* Canada–Ireland relations
* Ireland–United States relations

* * *

* Politics of the European Union

* v
* t
* e

Elections and referendums in the Republic of Ireland

Dáil elections|

* 1918
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1927 (Jun)
* 1927 (Sep)
* 1932
* 1933
* 1937
* 1938
* 1943
* 1944
* 1948
* 1951
* 1954
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1982 (Feb)
* 1982 (Nov)
* 1987
* 1989
* 1992
* 1997
* 2002
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024
* Next
* By-elections

Seanad elections|

* 1925

Presidential elections|

* 1938
* 1945
* 1952
* 1959
* 1966
* 1973
* 1974
* 1976
* 1983
* 1990
* 1997
* 2004
* 2011
* 2018
* 2025

European elections|

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019
* 2024

Local elections|

* 1920
* 1925
* 1928
* 1934
* 1942
* 1945
* 1950
* 1955
* 1960
* 1967
* 1974
* 1979
* 1985
* 1991
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019
* 2024

Referendums|

* 1937
* 1959
* 1968
* 1972 (May)
* 1972 (Dec)
* 1979
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1992 (Jun)
* 1992 (Nov)
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2001
* 2002 (Mar)
* 2002 (Oct)
* 2004
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011
* 2012 (May)
* 2012 (Nov)
* 2013
* 2015
* 2018 (May)
* 2018 (Oct)
* 2019
* 2024

* See also: Elections in the Kingdom of Ireland
* Elections in Ireland as part of the UK

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template