LAST UPDATE | 26 May

NEWLY ELECTED TDs Daniel Ennis and Séan Kyne made their first appearances at Leinster House today after winning seats in the two byelections at the weekend.

Social Democrats Ennis and his fiancée Chloe met with party leader Holly Cairns, deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan, fellow Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon and other members of the Social Democrats parliamentary party at the gates of Leinster House.

Speaking to reporters after brief remarks by Cairns, Ennis said he’s “delighted” to be taking his seat and feels the Social Democrats’ “positive style of politics” landed with voters in the constituency.

“Politics of decency and hope won out there in Dublin Central.”

While speaking to people on the doors during the campaign, he said he and his party listened to their concerns, whether they agreed on different things or not, and came away shaking hands.

“I will always represent anybody that calls Dublin Central home, no matter where they come from, how long they’re there. I’m just very, very proud to be representing the place where I grew up, where I was born and raised, the city that I love, and I’m trusting Dublin Central to raise my own young family.”

Ennis said he and Gannon will continue working to make the city and country “a better place to live for all”.

Issues of the day

Jane Matthews / The Journal Jane Matthews / The Journal / The Journal

Ennis was questioned on his priorities now that he’s made it into the Dáil.

He was also asked about what gave him the edge over Sinn Féin in the constituency, where he beat out Sinn Féin’s longstanding councillor Janice Boylan.

Ennis said his campaign was centred on positivity and meeting people where they are, and he was aided by working with Gannon. Gannon was the second person to secure his seat in the constituency in the 2024 general election after Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Ennis, a former League of Ireland footballer, came out strongly against Ireland playing Israel in two controversial Nations League fixtures scheduled for September and October.

“We shouldn’t be playing that game,” he stated, adding that deciding to take part or to boycott is as political a decision as the other.

“The FAI should be taking a stand, and our Irish government should be taking a stand on that.

“Football and sport is a universal language built on respect, and how can you stand shoulder to shoulder and line up against a genocidal regime like that?”

“The FAI should be taking a stand.. how can we line up and stand shoulder to shoulder against a genocidal regime?”

SocDems TD and former League of Ireland player Daniel Ennis backs calls for a boycott of the upcoming Ireland vs Israel soccer match. pic.twitter.com/xJ66kXWeUf

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) May 26, 2026

He said fans should “absolutely” boycott the match.

Cairns said her party’s positive result in securing two TDs in a four-seater constituency shows that the party is “a real political force in Ireland and a viable alternative in the next government”.

The Social Democrats will stand a candidate in every constituency in the next general election, she said.

Ennis’s comments about the upcoming Ireland vs Israel fixtures came as a protest by pro-Palestine activists took place outside Leinster House today, calling for the matchs to be cancelled. 

“FAI shame, shame. We will stop the game.”

Pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside Leinster House today to demand that the upcoming Ireland vs Israel match does not go ahead. pic.twitter.com/rtiiDliERK

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) May 26, 2026

Other opposition TDs also called for the matches to be cancelled by the FAI and boycotted by fans. 

Raising the issue this morning while speaking to reporters on the plinth of Leinster House, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said: “What other country would get away with torturing our citizens and then be welcomed in with a football match?”

This was a reference to the treatment of Irish activists who were illegally detained by Israel in international waters last week while travelling in an aid flotilla to Gaza.

Elsewhere today, the Fine Gael parliamentary party came out in force to welcome their newest TD for Galway West Seán Kyne. 

He was joined by party leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris as they spoke to media on the plinth of Leinster House.

Kyne said it was a “gruelling campaign” but he was grateful to be back in the Dáil as a TD after over 22 years in politics. 

When asked if he agrees with Daniel Ennis, that the Ireland vs Israel fixtures should not go ahead, Kyne said it was an issue he would defer to Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan on. 

“It’s a matter for FIFA, I certainly don’t believe that the players should in any way be blamed if this match goes ahead as I expect it to,” he said. 

Fine Gael’s newest TD for Galway West Séan Kyne on the upcoming Ireland vs Israel match.

“It’s a matter for FIFA.. I certainly don’t think the players should be blamed.” pic.twitter.com/GGDyYrUlse

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) May 26, 2026

Additional reporting by Jane Matthews at Leinster House