Aubrey McCarthy Secures Final Seat in Dublin University (TCD) Seanad Constituency
Entrepreneur and charity founder Aubrey McCarthy has been elected to the final seat in the Dublin University (TCD) Seanad constituency. His victory was confirmed after a recount was requested by Green party Councillor Hazel Chu.
Narrow Victory and Recount
Following the original close polling result where McCarthy’s votes led Chu’s by only 31 votes on the 15th and final count, a recount was initiated. After the recheck, McCarthy’s tally increased to 3,770 from the original 3,741, while Chu’s dropped slightly to 3,706 from 3,710.
Other Notable Wins
Nevertheless, the Green Party secured a Seanad victory with Malcolm Noonan topping the poll on the vocational Agricultural panel with 107 votes, surpassing the 95 vote quota. Newcomer Joanne Collins from Sinn Féin was also successful, securing 106 votes, and Victor Boyhan, an Independent Senator, maintained his position.
McCarthy’s election completes the line-up for the two university constituencies. He joins Senators Lynn Ruane and Tom Clonan who were re-elected to TCD.
National University of Ireland (NUI) Constituency
In the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency, Michael McDowell, an Independent, was re-elected along with his colleagues Rónán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins, both Independents.
Vocational Elections
A change in the vocational panel’s representational landscape is expected in the upcoming results. Senator Tom Lombard of Fine Gael and Eugene Murphy, who previously was affiliated with Fianna Fáil before transitioning to Independent status, might lose their seats.
Contested Election by Lorraine Clifford-Lee
Former Fianna Fáil senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee narrowly lost her seat to Independent Councillor Joe Conway. She sought a recount, but the result remained unchanged, with Clifford-Lee trailing Conway by a slim margin. Clifford-Lee now may explore her legal options following this setback.
Fianna Fáil’s Performance
In a surprise turn, Shane Curley from Loughrea, Co Galway, emerged victorious for Fianna Fáil, securing its sole seat in this election. Early expectations predicted a greater Fianna Fáil success in the voting. Joe Flaherty, formerly a Fine Gael TD, failed to secure a Seanad position.
Agricultural Panel Results
The Agricultural panel has now filled its five seats, with counting moving to the next panel. Pauline Tully, previously a Sinn Féin MP for Cavan-Monaghan, takes the first position with a vote of 193, just two votes shy of the required 191. Cathal Byrne from Fine Gael’s Wexford local council rounds out the panel with his election. Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne achieved re-election.
Conclusion
This Seanad election saw a mix of re-elected members, newcomers, and parties securing their representation amidst close margins and contested recounts. Each victory and defeat shapes the political landscape of Ireland’s upper house, contributing to a dynamic political environment.
We encourage you to share your thoughts on the election outcomes and their implications for Ireland’s politics. Join the conversation, and stay tuned for further developments.
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