2014 Dublin South-West by-election

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Dublin South-West constituency in Ireland on Friday, 10 October 2014,[1] following the election of Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Brian Hayes to the European Parliament.[2]

2014 Dublin South-West by-election
10 October 2014
 
Nominee Paul Murphy Cathal King Cáit Keane
Party Anti-Austerity Alliance Sinn Féin Fine Gael
First preferences 6,540 7,288 2,110
Percentage 27.2 30.3 8.8
Final count 9,565 8,999 –
 
Nominee Ronan McMahon Pamela Kearns John Lahart
Party Independent Labour Party Fianna Fáil
First preferences 2,142 2,043 2,077
Percentage 8.9 8.5 8.6
Final count – – –
 
Nominee Declan Burke Nicky Coules Francis Noel Duffy
Party Independent People Before Profit Green Party
First preferences 681 530 447
Percentage 2.8 2.2 1.9
Final count – – –
Dublin South-West shown within County Dublin
TD before election

Brian Hayes
Fine Gael

 Elected TD

Paul Murphy
Anti-Austerity Alliance

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[3] The Roscommon–South Leitrim by-election was held on the same date.

Paul Murphy of the Anti-Austerity Alliance was elected on the eighth count.[4] Murphy's victory came as a surprise as Sinn Féin had performed extremely well in local elections the previous May, winning 50.3% of the first preference vote in the Tallaght South LEA and 32% in the Tallaght Central LEA,[5][6] and were widely predicted to win the seat.[7][8][9] Murphy largely campaigned on the issue of Irish Water, stating that Sinn Féin could not be trusted to oppose water charges. In the wake of a poor local election result, Labour and Fine Gael were not considered contenders for the seat while Fianna Fáil largely focused its resources on the Roscommon–South Leitrim by-election.[10]

Murphy's victory brought the issue of water charges to the forefront of political debate in the run-up to the 2016 general election, and contributed to a shift in Sinn Féin's position to one of outright opposition.[11]

Result
2014 Dublin South–West by-election[12]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
Sinn Féin Cathal King 30.3 7,288 7,304 7,340 7,448 7,580 7,828 8,017 8,999
Anti-Austerity Alliance Paul Murphy 27.2 6,540 6,579 6,622 6,890 7,079 7,436 7,726 9,565
Independent Ronan McMahon 8.9 2,142 2,167 2,227 2,265 2,464 3,049 3,416  
Fine Gael Cáit Keane 8.8 2,110 2,117 2,194 2,203 2,267 2,575 3,857  
Fianna Fáil John Lahart 8.6 2,077 2,085 2,138 2,152 2,200      
Labour Party Pamela Kearns 8.5 2,043 2,053 2,155 2,170 2,239 2,492    
Independent Declan Burke 2.8 681 711 746 818        
People Before Profit Nicky Coules 2.2 530 540 554          
Green Party Francis Noel Duffy 1.9 447 453            
Independent Tony Rochford 0.4 92              
Independent Colm O'Keeffe 0.3 74              
Electorate: 70,400   Valid: 24,024   Spoilt: 256 (1.1%)   Quota: 12,013   Turnout: 24,280 (34.5%)
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    See also

    References
    1. "Two byelections 'to be held on October 10th'". The Irish Times. 29 August 2014.
    2. "Ní Riada elected, counts suspended in Midlands North West and South". RTÉ News. 27 May 2014.
    3. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
    4. "Paul Murphy elected in Dublin South-West by-election". RTÉ News. 11 October 2014.
    5. https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=211
    6. https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=212
    7. http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1011/651577-by-elections/
    8. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/paul-murphy-trumps-sinn-f%C3%A9in-s-cathal-king-in-dublin-south-west-1.1960624
    9. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-south-west-is-sf-s-to-lose-despite-left-wing-competition-1.1957681
    10. http://www.thejournal.ie/fianna-fail-ivan-connaughton-1848983-Dec2014/
    11. Howlin, Gerard (27 April 2016). "Water charges vital to tax base and to supporting those on low incomes". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
    12. "Dublin South-West by-election". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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