2022 Dublin University by-election

A by-election was held for the Seanad Éireann Dublin University constituency in Ireland in March 2022.[1] Ballot papers were issued on 25 February and polls closed at 11 a.m. on 30 March 2022.[2] The election was won by former army officer and whistleblower Tom Clonan.[3][4]

Background

The vacancy was caused by the election of Labour's Ivana Bacik to Dáil Éireann on 8 July 2021 at a by-election in Dublin Bay South.[5] On 10 November 2021, the Seanad passed a motion calling on the clerk of the Seanad to send notice to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the vacancy.[6] The minister was required to make the order for a by-election within six months of this notice.[7]

Election system

Every citizen of Ireland who is at least 18 years old and who has received a degree (other than an honorary degree) or obtained a scholarship from Trinity College Dublin is entitled to be registered as an elector.[8] The electorate of the university is approximately 70,000.[1][9] When a casual vacancy occurs it is filled by a by-election. The procedure at a by-election is the same as that at a general election of university members.[9] Candidates must be proposed and seconded by two registered electors, with the assent of eight other electors.[10] All votes are cast by postal ballot, and are counted using the single transferable vote.

Candidates

Seventeen candidates were nominated.[11] All nominations are non-partisan, with no provision for nomination by parties as there is in Dáil elections. These include, ordered by the date of their declaration:

Result
2022 Seanad by-election: Dublin University[26][27][28][29]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678910111213141516
Independent Hugo MacNeill 15.4% 2,068 2,071 2,075 2,085 2,092 2,102 2,121 2,153 2,250 2,290 2,312 2,391 2,624 2,863    
Independent Tom Clonan 14.5% 1,947 1,952 1,976 1,990 2,014 2,040 2,077 2,137 2,243 2,332 2,436 2,637 2,973 3,359 4,200 5,358
Independent Maureen Gaffney 14.0% 1,882 1,884 1,892 1,913 1,936 1,972 1,993 2,066 2,121 2,190 2,274 2,438 2,641 3,083 3,908 5,198
Green Party Hazel Chu[lower-alpha 1] 13.2% 1,766 1,770 1,785 1,802 1,823 1,842 1,858 1,918 1,955 2,090 2,272 2,583 2,743 3,300 3,683  
Labour Party Ursula Quill[lower-alpha 1] 8.6% 1,156 1,159 1,178 1,205 1,226 1,246 1,290 1,325 1,368 1,430 1,525 1,773 1,890      
Independent Aubrey McCarthy 7.1% 947 950 954 962 977 997 1,012 1,033 1,115 1,139 1,187 1,281        
Independent Sadhbh O'Neill 6.5% 870 873 879 896 909 931 940 991 1,030 1,105 1,186          
Social Democrats Catherine Stocker[lower-alpha 1] 3.9% 521 521 530 541 548 563 576 600 608 657            
Independent Ade Oluborode 3.5% 471 479 488 500 508 528 548 576 586              
Independent Ray Bassett 3.4% 458 458 458 463 475 480 497 544                
Independent Patricia McKenna 3.1% 421 421 427 434 440 454 463                  
Independent Paula Roseingrave 1.5% 200 200 202 209 220                      
Labour Party Eoin Barry[lower-alpha 1] 1.4% 189 192 199 199                        
Independent Ryan Alberto Ó Giobúin 1.4% 182 183 195 202 222 230                    
Independent Gisèle Scanlon 1.3% 170 170 174                          
Independent Michael McDermott 1.0% 132 134                            
Independent Abbas Ali O'Shea 0.3% 38                              
Electorate: 67,788   Valid: 13,418   Spoilt: 16   Quota: 6,710   Turnout: 13,434 (19.8%)  
    1. Indication of party membership. No party labels appeared on the ballot.

    See also

    References
    1. McGee, Harry (16 November 2021). "Seanad byelection set to cost over €500k". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
    2. "Seanad Bye-Election to be held". Government of Ireland. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
    3. McQuinn, Cormac (31 March 2022). "Tom Clonan wins Seanad byelection by 160 votes after close race". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
    4. "Clonan wins Trinity College Seanad by-election". RTÉ News. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
    5. "Labour's Ivana Bacik elected in Dublin Bay South after ninth count". RTÉ News. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
    6. "Vacancy in Membership of Seanad Éireann: Motion – Seanad Éireann (26th Seanad)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 November 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    7. Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, s. 13: Seanad bye-election orders (No. 30 of 1937, s. 13). Enacted on 19 November 1937. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
    8. Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, s. 7: Franchise (No. 30 of 1937, s. 7). Enacted on 19 November 1937. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
    9. "How the Seanad is Elected". Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage . 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
    10. Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, s. 7: Nomination of candidates (No. 30 of 1937, s. 7). Enacted on 19 November 1937. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
    11. "Nominations for the University of Dublin Seanad Bye-Election 2022". Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    12. Tom Clonan [@TomClonan] (10 July 2021). "Sincerest Congrats to @ivanabacik on her election to Dáil Éireann. Ivana will be a great TD - like @geraldnash I intend to run in Senate TCD By-Election: 'Who could fill Ivana Bacik's seat in the Seanad following her election to Dáil?' (via @thejournal_ie)" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via Twitter.
    13. O'Brien, Stephen. "Rugby star Hugo MacNeill makes another try to win Seanad seat". The Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
    14. Moreau, Emer (21 September 2021). "Two Trinity PhD Students Announces Seanad Bid". The University Times. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
    15. O'Halloran, Marie (2 August 2021). "Hazel Chu considers running in Trinity College Seanad by election". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
    16. Maguire, Mairead (1 November 2021). "Journalist and Ex-Diplomat Ray Bassett to Contest Seanad Bye Election". The University Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
    17. "Seanad byelection set to cost over €500k". The Irish Times. Dublin. 16 November 2021. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
    18. O'Neill, Sadhbh. "Why am I Standing?". Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    19. Barrett, Joe (13 December 2021). "Laois man to contest by-election for seat in Seanad Éireann". Laois Nationalist. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
    20. Bowers, Shauna (24 January 2022). "Barrister Ade Oluborode Announces Seanad Bid For Trinity Seat in Seanad Byelection". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
    21. Michael McDermott (Abolish the Seanad from within) [@GlassHalfArsed] (27 January 2022). "Who's nominating me?" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 February 2022 – via Twitter.
    22. Hurley, Sandra (22 February 2022). "Well known names vie to fill Ivana Bacik's Seanad seat". Dublin. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
    23. Hosford, Paul (4 February 2022). "Former Dublin mayor Hazel Chu to contest Seanad election". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
    24. O'Meara, Paul (11 February 2022). "Kildare businessman and charity founder launches Seanad bid". Leinster Leader. Naas. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
    25. McKenna, Patricia [@Pmckennaa] (12 February 2022). "Dissolve The Echo Chambers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    26. "UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN - SEANAD BYE-ELECTION 2022" (PDF). Oireachtas. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
    27. "Nominations for the University of Dublin Seanad Bye-Election 2022". Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    28. "Seanad Bye-Election 2022". Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
    29. McQuinn, Cormac (30 March 2022). "Seanad byelection: Hugo MacNeill tops poll in first count". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
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