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ALTHOUGH TAOISEACH SIMON Harris is still keeping us in the dark on a polling date, this hasn’t deterred the main political parties from gearing up their election machines.
The Journal caught up with each of the main parties to see how they are set.
Some, especially Fine Gael, are more prepared than others, but all of them have said they are in good shape and pretty much ready to go as soon as the starting gun is fired.
Fianna Fáil had 37 TDs elected during the last general election in 2020, joint highest with Sinn Féin.
The party ran 84 candidates, meaning they had a success rate of 44%.
This time around, the party currently has 66 candidates selected, but with the selection conventions of a couple of constituencies outstanding, they expect their total number of candidates to rise to above 70.
In terms of strategy, the party is running at least one candidate in each of the country’s 43 constituencies.
In most, it is a two candidate strategy. In a few, it is a single person running (Carlow, parts of Dublin, Sligo-Leitrim, Laois, Tipperary South, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow).
In two constituencies, they have gone all out with three candidates. Norma Foley will have two running mates in Kerry, while Cathal Crowe will be joined by the senator Timmy Dooley and county councillor Rita McInerney in Clare.
This election will be the first where women must make up 40% of all a party’s candidates (parties will be hit with a financial penalty if not).
Fianna Fáil is currently just below this at 39%, but a spokesperson for the party said they expect to be comfortably above this once all candidates are selected, making the point that a significant number of their first-time candidates are women.
At 25 years of age, Fianna Fáil’s youngest candidate is Albert Dolan. Dolan is currently the youngest Cathaoirleach in the history of Galway County Council.
Dolan and TD James O’Connor are Fianna Fáil’s only candidates under 30.
Last time around Fine Gael had 35 of its 82 candidates elected – a success rate of 43%.
The landscape has completely changed for the party since then, with 17 of its current 33 TDs not seeking re-election.
The party has a few selection conventions outstanding, but a spokesperson said they will “come close” to the 82 they ran in 2020.
Currently, 68 candidates are confirmed – 11 are not currently elected representatives, while 27 of the 68 are women.
In terms of the gender quota, this places Fine Gael just at 40%, but, like Fianna Fáil, a spokesperson said they are confident that they will be above this once all candidates are confirmed.
In most constituencies, Fine Gael is contesting just one or two candidates. They are going all in in Mayo however with four – the only party to take this approach in any constituency.
Fine Gael’s youngest candidate is county councillor Evie Sammon, aged 31. She will be contesting in the same Kildare North as the party’s oldest candidate, Bernard Durkan.
No candidates running for Fine Gael (yet?) are under the age of 30.
Last time around Sinn Féin had a success rate of 88% – with 37 of its 42 candidates winning Dáil seats.
Much has been said about the party’s electoral strategy and seeming inability to get the numbers right (after June’s local elections Mary Lou McDonald admitted that they ran too many candidates in some places), but this time around McDonald said it’s “third time lucky”.
The party will be fielding a candidate in every constituency, but no more than two in each. It’s understood that the only exception to this is Donegal, where the party might add a third candidate.
At the moment, over 50 candidates have been selected and once all are chosen the party expects to have approximately 65.
Like most others, a spokesperson for the party refused to put a figure on what a good day would be, instead they said they are hoping to build on their current number of TDs.
The spokesperson said they are currently just above the 40% gender quota and expect to have no problem building on that.
Sinn Féin’s youngest candidate, 26 year old Louis O’Hara is contesting a seat in Galway East. As of now, he is the party’s only candidate under the age of 30.
The mood appears to be mixed in the Green Party when it comes to how they may fare in the election.
Last time around the party had 12 of its 39 candidates elected, a success rate of 30% but a huge gain of 10 in the Dáil.
One party source said recently that they would be happy to hold on to six seats, but a party spokesperson said they are hopeful that the party might yet out do current polling.
“We’re not worried about opinion polls. Last time we were about the same percentage before the election but then once people started to become engaged in the weeks before things changed – that gives us a lot of confidence and hope,” the spokesperson said.
The Green Party do things a bit differently and instead of traditional selection conventions, each constituency’s grassroots members decide who they want to run. It’s the party’s longstanding policy to only one run candidate per constituency but to run someone in every constituency in the country.
At the moment, 35 candidates are confirmed leaving eight to go. 15 of the candidates are women (43%).
Two of the party’s candidates are in their 20s – Rob O’Donnell and Ruadháin Bonham.
At 22 years of age, Bonham is one of the youngest candidates set to contest the next election.
The Labour Party is hoping to build on its current six Dáil seats and is planning to run over 30 candidates, a similar number to 2020.
As it stands, 26 have been selected.
Last time around, it wasn’t the best year for Labour, with the party losing one of its Dáil seats. The party had a success rate of 19%, with 6 of its 31 candidates winning seats.
It is however optimistic that things will be better this time around. A spokesperson said they were “written off” in the recent locals and Europeans but in the end were happy with their lot.
The party is confident it will reach the 40% gender quota.
Its youngest candidate is county councillor Eoghan Kenny at 24 years of age. He is the party’s only candidate under the age of 30.
The Social Democrats will run 24 candidates, with most already selected.
Like others, a party spokesperson wouldn’t put a number on it but said they are hoping to build on its current six TDs.
Last time around, the Social Democrats ran 20 candidates with a success rate of 30%, going from three TDs to six.
In terms of the gender quota, 11 of the party’s 24 candidates are women (45%).
None of the Social Democrat candidates are aged under 30. The party’s youngest candidate is Ellen Murphy in Dublin West, aged 31.
A spokesperson for People Before Profit told The Journal they are “almost there” with their election preparations, with just one or two selection conventions outstanding.
The party is aiming to run one candidate in each of the 43 constituencies. It’s understood there are two constituencies where they may field two candidates.
The spokesperson said they have had “no difficulty” recruiting women and will be comfortable hitting the 40% quota.
When asked how many seats would make a good election day, the spokesperson responded: “We’ll be focusing on bringing an end to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in power. Eight seats would be a good day.”
People Before Profit are currently running five candidates under the age of 30. Zoe Laplaud is the yongest at 24.
Formed last year, this election will be the first for Independent Ireland.
With three TDs currently in the Dáil, party leader Michael Collins is hoping to build on that.
Ten candidates have been selected to date, four of whom are women. A spokesperon for the party told The Journal that they are still in active discussions with potential candidates and that they expect the final number to be in excess of 20.
Will this include Niall Boylan? It’s understood that this is unlikely.
“We’re in good shape. We know our candidates. Our strategy is to announce a candidate every couple of days in the work up [to the election being called],” the party spokesperson said, adding that they are working to a date in mid-November.
Of the candidates announced so far, none are under the age of 30. The spokesperson said however that there are some in the pipeline.
Peadar Tóibín is currently the sole Aontú TD in the Dáil.
The party has 34 candidates confirmed so far, with nine selection conventions outstanding – aiming to run someone in each constituency.
Tóibín is contemplating bringing in a running mate in his home turf of Meath West, but no one has yet been confirmed.
In his view, the party is in strong contention for seven or eight seats.
Aontú’s youngest candidate is Melissa Byrne at 25 years of age. Byrne cut her teeth in June’s local elections, just losing out on a seat in Newbridge.
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No doubt….its a NOVEMBER ELECTION.
I reckon the same ole, same ole with the Social Democrats replacing the green for best seats on the gravy train
@Frank Mc Carthy: yep, definitely next month……. Possibly FFG with a dose of SD’s……… Don’t think greens will get totally eradicated but it’ll be a bad day ‘ in the office ‘ for sure, a good election for independents & maybe a few seats going the way of the nationist crowd. SF will be the biggest losers this time round….. Showed such promise tail end 2023/ start of 24′… but their self inflicted implosions will come home to roost
@Frank Mc Carthy: FF/FG could get about 85 seats. With 87 being a majority.
@Frank Mc Carthy: After the defeat in SF, it will be time for Mary Lou to go away and the senior management that go with her. They really messed it up.
there is no alternative to the woke parties (inclusions, pro migrants, pro everything) now. SD is a party for the labour nostalgic and exists only in big cities. not powerful and woke anyway. What we need is a new party with dedicated honest people that are not corrupted and get the job done. the only country I know having that is called Utopia…. unless …
@Dominic Leleu: it seems the electorate disagree with you. A large portion support FF/FG. Despite them supporting immigration and woke human rights that you’re against.
@9QRixo8H: The electorate have a limited choice, all the parties in the article are either supporting the current influx or want Ireland to take in even more IPA’s.
@9QRixo8H: Define and clarify ‘large portion’? It’s okay to really ‘want’ certain things that suit us to be true. I dunno, maybe you’re a landlord…
@Frank Mc Carthy: they are big bstards all of them, taking our money and throwing it up the wall..
@The next small thing: well you had a choice of 4 different parties who are against the ‘influx’, but they got rejected. You still had that choice.
@James Daly: 45% are supporting FG/FF in the recent polls. In the local election, both FF and FG got 23% each, so 46% for both. A large portion support them, despite the housing issue and young people having to emigrate abroad (as long as borders don’t get closed).
@9QRixo8H: if their combined vote share is 45%, then assuming they transfer well to each other they will be very close to an overall majority. Given that there will be so many opposition parties, as well as a good few independents, they could probably survive as a minority government if they had a mind to
@Frank Mc Carthy: It would be really great if the government stays full term. All good people of Ireland support this government despite several mistakes like delays in opening asylum centre in Coolock.
I really feel that it doesn’t matter who we vote for now because FFG will be elected again. It is beyond depressing.
@Lily Martin: that’s it in a nutshell Lily, look at the ‘ opposition’ benches….. Definitely nothing to inspire any confidence there. To quote shakespeare { Hamlet}…: therein lies the rub’
@Lily Martin: the opposition is definitely lacking, but FFG voters will be out in force and this mentality is exactly what’ll win them the election.
Vote tactically, reduce their majority.
@Lily Martin: there is nothing depressing about this government. Really competent professionals. There is not much alternative so all good people of Ireland will be happy for FFG to rule the country.
@Lily Martin: there’s actually no sensible option to vote for. And that’s by design. Money stays in power. If you like an options economic policies but their societal policies are nuts (if you know what I mean)and visa versa. Can we not just get a normal left wing option without the childhood castration and value based education in schools. Is that too much to ask?
answer is none of them….not one party has the irish interests at heart…number one on the list for any gov should be health and for the way our country should be our health system is shockling poor…crime min sentences should he increased too many getting away with suspended sentences….houses….the gov should he flat out building public houses to flatten the price of a private house way too much money to be paying….my fullest answer is that no matter who gets in they are all bluffers….just all talk and no answers
@kaidon sharkey: Apathy is the enemy of democracy
@Frank Mc Carthy: if there was a referendum on the wages of tds to bring it down to 50 grand a year then maybe they would start showing some concern about the people who they r ment to represent
@kaidon sharkey: my ol granny used to say , ‘ if wishes were horses beggars would ride’
@Frank Mc Carthy: thats a good saying
@kaidon sharkey: That’s probably the stup idest comment I’ve seen in the Journal. Who in their right minds would take the job of a TD for 50k only an id ot?
@Sean Hayes: that went way over your head lad….
@kaidon sharkey: have to be honest, she was dead & gone before I actually realised what it meant
@Frank Mc Carthy: my condolences though…never heard that saying its a good one she had a wise mind
@Sean Hayes: well maybe they should be put down to 50,000 and prove what they can actually do before they get any sort of bonus it’s our money at the end of the day why should we pay them a substantial amount of money to do whatever they choose to do so I don’t think it’s a stupid comment Make them work for the money that we pay them they work for us they shouldn’t dictate to us what they think is right when the country is falling apart so maybe you should understand that man’s point of view instead of begrudging him with stupid remarks
@kaidon sharkey: how come that no party has the Irish interest at heart but all good people of Ireland will vote FF/FG?! Our family will vote for FG because they have the job to finish – open asylum centre in Coolock despite opposition from drug gangs.
LOL
What a line up
Something really broken in this so called “democratic” system.
Really do not think it can be fixed considering the machinery in place and the vested interests supporting. Apologies for the depressing outlook
@The Hard Road: The ‘independents’ photo is hilarious tho, chancers
Insanity repeat for past 19 years same choices, expecting different results.
Take it from non native Irish with broken English.
@sakk sa:
I am 60+y on this godforsaken planet. Nothing much has changed really. What do you expect ? Apparently all this bs started with Adam and Eve. It was paradise and they fecked it up.
@sakk sa: grama nasis, sooo how many languages u learned to develop more brighter motorways upsters…
@offside again: atitiude change may help elderly to let it go attachment thinking for prep n plan into a other planet stage….
@A W: tree
@sakk sa: I will vote for who I deem the best. Why vote for change if it will possibly be worse. From an Irish native.
I hate the thoughts of this lot knocking on my door again.
There’s only so much of mr smugness failure donnelly i can take anymore. Along with mr smugness failure Darragh houses for all O’Brien. But but at least them parasites greens should be put to grass..
Nepotism and corruption is rife.
They all sing,from the same hymn sheet is this regard.
Why are no ordinary people going forward for elections.mostly they all hail from wealthy stock.
@Timothy Dennehy:
Are you running?
With the abuse TDs get I wouldn’t do that job, even for €100k+ per year!
@P. J.: what abuse? It’s their job they know exactly what they’re doing. They know exactly what they signed up to do. Just like any other profession.
There once was a man named Cobalt,
His antics the papers could halt,
A spy he did kiss,
The guards did not miss,
Yet voters will say, ’twas no fault.
@Watchful Axe: there once was a man from Nantucket who’s……. Oh I thought we were doing Limerick s
They all look very well fed. And quite determined to keep feeding as we balefully listen to their pithy platitudes about ‘the most vulnerable’, ‘mental health’ and ‘international obligations’.
I love my country, I really do. But is this what represents us; this yawning self-serving gallery of muppets?
Fianna fial can run as many candidates as they want,I don’t vote for a corrupt political organisation
The Rod board for me. I love what they’ve done to the country. Not to mention the two c u n t parties that took them on in the first place to.stay in power. I use that word with a lot of pre thought and consideration.
It’s like deciding which end of a carrot you want to eat out of a pile of sick.
Hopefully it’s a one party government, thats the only slight positive I can see, we need infrastructure desperately, if the greens get anywhere near government we’re goosed.
No party in Dail Eirinn representing the Irish people anymore, people have lost faith in mainstream politics & major institutions in Ireland, having been failed with scandal after scandal, by all for decades. When you leave a populace without hope or alternative or change, they will eventually turn. We need something more radical now in Ireland to reclaim our country, Dail Eirinn has failed abysmally. Voting in any party either from Cabinet or Opposition won’t see any change, people are frustrated on the ground but fear is making it, not come to the fore, however another RTE, NCH, SIPO, Irish Rail, Irish Water expose or increase in cost of living is not far away & if you vote in any of the parties in Dail Eirinn, you are accepting that it’s ok for them to impose more pain on you.
Why are journalists this excited about the date of the GE. I’m genuinely perplexed as to why it matters this much as it’s due in the next few months regardless.
Anything to make sure Mary Muslim Lou and her Pedo party don’t get elected.
Will ya look at the sketch of them all, eager beavers.
Who gives a flying FOCK anymore?? No seriously we no longer live in a democracy… our GEs as pathetic as the Rose of Tralee.
The cash grab begins again
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