2024 Irish General Election

The 2024 Irish general election to elect the 34th Dáil took place on Friday, 29 November 2024, following the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil on 8 November by President Michael D. Higgins at the request of Taoiseach Simon Harris. Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m UTC. It elected 174 Teachtaí Dála (TDs) across 43 constituencies of between 3 and 5 seats to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's legislature. Under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, the number of TDs was increased from 160 to 174, making it the largest Dáil in the history of the state, with an increase in the number of constituencies from 39 to 43. The main issues in the campaign were the cost of living, housing affordability and availability, immigration and asylum management, and economic stability amid external trade uncertainties, reflecting voter concerns despite the country's strong overall financial health.

The election resulted in Fianna Fáil remaining as the largest party, increasing its number of seats to 48. Its governing partner Fine Gael won 38 seats, with the two parties combined winning 86 seats, two shy of a majority. The Green Party, the third party of government, lost all but one of its seats, with only leader Roderic O'Gorman returning to the Dáil. Sinn Féin remained as the second largest party, winning 39 seats, while the Social Democrats and Labour each won 11 seats, an increase of five each.

On 15 January 2025, the formation of a coalition government was agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and nine independents. Micheál Martin was appointed Taoiseach on 23 January 2025.

Background

The 33rd Dáil first met on 20 February 2020, and could have been dissolved no later than 19 February 2025. This meant that, per a calculation in ''The Irish Times'', the latest date the election could have been held was 22 March 2025.

In June 2020, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party formed a coalition government. The parties agreed on a rotation, with the two major party leaders alternating as Taoiseach. Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, served as Taoiseach from 27 June 2020 to 17 December 2022; Leo Varadkar, leader of Fine Gael, served as Taoiseach from 17 December 2022 to 9 April 2024; and Simon Harris served as Taoiseach from 9 April 2024, shortly after succeeding Varadkar as Fine Gael leader.

For most of 2024, many pundits believed that an autumn election was likely; coalition leaders repeatedly said they would like the government to complete its full term but were open to an early election if the circumstances provided for it. Polling conducted in October 2024 indicated a majority of the public supported an early election to be held in November of the same year.

Following the announcement on 1 October 2024 of the 2025 budget, speculation began in earnest that an election would be called for November or December. In late October, Harris said that he expected the election to be held before the end of 2024. On 6 November, Harris confirmed that he would seek a dissolution of the Dáil on 8 November. Two days later, he asked the president to dissolve the Dáil. Later that day, Darragh O'Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, signed the order for the election to take place on 29 November 2024 and a three-week election campaign began.

To stand for election to Dáil Éireann, candidates must be Irish citizens aged at least 21, and if unaffiliated with a registered political party, they must secure either 30 assentors from the constituency or lodge a €500 deposit.

Constituency revision

In August 2023, the Electoral Commission proposed a Dáil size of 174 TDs to be elected in 43 Dáil constituencies – an increase of 14 TDs and four constituencies. This was the first review of constituencies carried out by the Commission established under the Electoral Reform Act 2022, where previously they had been carried out by a Constituency Commission. This would be the largest size of the Dáil in the history of the State, surpassing the previous number of 166 TDs from 1981 to 2016. The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 implemented the recommendations of the commission.

The preliminary results of the 2022 census showed a population of over 5.1 million, which required a minimum Dáil size of 171 TDs. The Commission was required by law to recommend a size of the Dáil of between 171 and 181 TDs. This range reflects the growth in the population of the state, and the requirement of Article 16.6.2° of the Constitution of Ireland that there be one TD elected for no less than every 20,000 of the population and no more than every 30,000.

Electoral system

Under the system of single transferable vote (STV), each voter may mark any number of the candidates in order of preference. The quota is determined at the first count in each constituency by dividing the number of valid ballots by one more than the number of seats (for example, a quarter of the valid ballots in a three-seat constituency, a fifth of those in a four-seat constituency, and a sixth of those in a five-seat constituency) and ''then'' adding one vote – thus determining the number of votes that may be attained by ''only'' the number of seats to be filled. Any candidate reaching or exceeding the quota is elected.

If in the first count fewer candidates reach the quota than the number of seats to be filled, if any successful candidates have more votes than the quota, their surplus is distributed to remaining candidates based on the next usable marked preference on the ballot papers. If still it happens that fewer candidates have reached the quota than the number of seats to be filled, the last-placed candidate is excluded from the count and those ballot papers are transferred to the next usable marked preference. This is repeated until sufficient candidates have reached the quota to fill the available seats, or where a seat remains to be filled in a constituency and no candidate is capable of achieving a quota as there is nobody left to eliminate for a distribution, then the highest place candidate, even if not having quota, is deemed elected.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl, as Ceann Comhairle immediately before the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil, was automatically deemed to be elected a member of the 34th Dáil Éireann. This is provided for under the Constitution and electoral law.

Vacancies

Four TDs were elected to the European Parliament and took office on 16 July, vacating their seats in the Dáil. One TD, Joe Carey, resigned from the Dáil on grounds of ill health.

Retiring incumbents

Thirty outgoing members of the 33rd Dáil did not seek re-election:

Candidates

The 2024 general election featured 686 candidates and 20 registered political parties. A record 248 candidates are women, which is 36% of the total and a 53% increase from 2020. This was driven by a new 40% gender quota for both men and women in political party nominations, though women remain significantly underrepresented in the Dáil and Cabinet.

Campaign

In the first week of the campaign, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, speaking at an event to launch the campaign of Peter Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and an outgoing Fine Gael TD for Longford–Westmeath, criticised the number of former teachers in the Dáil and advocated for more private-sector professionals to address infrastructure challenges. O'Leary's remarks were widely condemned by teaching unions and representatives of other parties as disrespectful to teachers and public servants. O'Leary defended his comments as a call for professional diversity in politics, while some government leaders (such as former teacher Micheál Martin) distanced themselves from his views, emphasising the value of teachers' contributions to society.

Following the first week of canvassing, the BBC suggested the primary issues in the campaign were the housing crisis, strained healthcare services, the rising cost of living, concerns over public spending and immigration reform. ''The Guardian'' has suggested the main campaign issues are the cost of living, housing, healthcare funding, immigration, and the use of a €14 billion tax windfall following the resolution of Apple's EU tax dispute. It has suggested voters are concerned about rising living costs, high rents, and healthcare resources, while the topic of immigration has become polarising, with calls for tougher controls. The Apple windfall has sparked debates on whether it should fund housing, infrastructure, or social services.

In addition to the criticism Fine Gael received due to their selection of John McGahon as a candidate, the party were also challenged during the campaign on their handling of Patsy O'Brien, a Mayo candidate expelled from the party in 2020 for sending inappropriate messages to a party staff member. Fine Gael cited privacy concerns for not disclosing the reason at the time, while opposition parties accused Fine Gael of hypocrisy, noting Fine Gael's call for political accountability during the campaign. O'Brien, now running as an Independent, refused to comment on the allegations, citing legal advice. Further scrutiny emerged around Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton, who canvassed with O'Brien in 2020 despite allegedly knowing about his misconduct.

On 22 November, during the final weekend of the campaign, Simon Harris walked away from an emotional exchange with Charlotte Fallon, a carer from St Joseph's Foundation, in Kanturk, County Cork. Fallon, a worker in a section 39 disability organisation, accused the government of neglecting carers and people with disabilities. Harris dismissed her claims, leading to a tense exchange and his abrupt departure after she called him "not a good man". The incident, captured on video by RTÉ News, drew criticism from activists and opposition politicians who condemned Harris for his dismissive response. Fallon later said she felt "shaken" and upset. Harris rang her the following morning to apologise, admitting he had been "harsh" and should have given her more time. Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee defended Harris, citing the long day of campaigning.

On 23 November Philip Sutcliffe Snr, a councillor for Independent Ireland and candidate for Dublin South-Central, quit the party after controversy arose over his association with Conor McGregor following McGregor being found liable for rape in a civil trial. Another issue was Sutcliffe's reported interest in meeting career criminal Gerry Hutch, who also ran in the election. Sutcliffe faced criticism from party leadership, who deemed his actions and public statements inconsistent with their commitment to law and order.

On 26 November, the ''Irish Daily Mirror'' alleged that on 22 November Fine Gael had pressured RTÉ News on how the video of Simon Harris in Kanturk would be framed. Later the same day, Fine Gael confirmed that contact had been made between the party and RTÉ, but insisted that communication between political party press offices and RTÉ was routine and a daily occurrence throughout the campaign. Mary Lou McDonald called the interaction "chilling" (recalling the same remark made by Simon Harris earlier in the campaign towards Sinn Féin) while Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats stated "The Taoiseach cannot have his cake and eat it. There were all sorts of videos put out of him dancing at the start of the campaign. We hear him talking a lot about a new energy but what was clearly lacking was a new empathy". How the political parties interact with the media has been another issue in the campaign. On 19 November during the launch of Sinn Féin's manifesto, it was noted by journalists that the manifesto contained a pledge to investigate RTÉ News coverage of the Gaza war if Sinn Féin enters government. Harris called the measure "chilling" while journalists from several Irish news outlets and the National Union of Journalists expressed deep concern about political interference in news coverage.

Although she was due to give birth, the leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns continued to work throughout the campaign, switching to social media in the final week. On 29 November, the day of the poll, Cairns gave birth to a girl.

Party manifestos and slogans

Television debates

RTÉ hosted two leaders' debates. The first, on 18 November, featured the leaders of ten political parties, and was the largest leaders' debate in Irish history. The second, on 26 November, featured the leaders of the three largest parties: Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

Three interviews were conducted on Virgin Media ONE with Collete Fitzpatrick with the leaders of the largest three parties: Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. Virgin Media decided against debates, noting RTÉ's bail out and public funding.

Matt Copper's Last Word on Today FM and Sky News offered to host a three-way debate between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. However, according to Fine Gael an official request was not made.

18 November debate

''The Irish Times'' stated the key issues discussed in the 18 November debate were housing, cost-of-living pressures, and healthcare, alongside broader questions of governance and political accountability. Housing dominated as the central topic, with Sinn Féin criticising government schemes like Help to Buy and First Homes, while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil defended their approach. Mary Lou McDonald proposed that stamp duty should be abolished for new buyers. Another topic was how Apple's €14 billion tax payment should be spent. Leaders acknowledged the potential for this to be a "pocketbook election", with housing symbolising broader economic frustrations. During the debate, Fine Gael was criticised by Sinn Féin for running John McGahon as a candidate, who had been found liable for assault in the High Court. Taoiseach Simon Harris stood by McGahon, citing that he had been found not guilty in a trial in the Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court. Harris retorted that Sinn Féin "press officer is in prison tonight"; a reference to the recent conviction in Northern Ireland of Michael McMonagle for child sex offences.

The smaller political parties focused on key issues like governance and policy direction. Independent Ireland's Michael Collins said his party would talk to anyone who would priorise their agenda while People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett advocated for a left-leaning government, rejecting any support for Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. Joan Collins of Right to Change highlighted public frustration with the two dominant parties and their handling of the housing and health crises. Labour's Ivana Bacik stressed the importance of a centre-left platform and constructive change, while Cian O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats made clear that any government must address housing issues. Aontú's Peadar Tóibín distanced his party from Fine Gael and the Greens but was open to Fianna Fáil, while Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman underscored that the Greens' participation in any coalition would depend on prioritising green policies.

Opinion polls

On 1 November, Coimisiún na Meán announced the lifting of the reporting moratorium that had been in place since 1997, and which had prevented election coverage from 14:00 on the day prior to the election until the close of polls. However, the agency also advised broadcasters not to report on opinion polls or exit polls while voting is underway.

Various organisations conduct regular opinion polls to gauge voting intentions. Results of such polls are displayed in the graph below.

The date range for these opinion polls is from the previous general election, held on 8 February 2020, to the close of poll for the 2024 general election.

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Results

Polls opened at 7am UTC and closed at 10pm on 29 November.

Counting of the votes commenced at 9am on 30 November.

Voter turnout reached a record low. According to RTÉ News, "The national turnout was down to 59.7%, marking the lowest turnout since 1923, the last time the number was below 60%."

Seats summary

Results by constituency

TDs who lost their seats

Violet-Anne Wynne and Patricia Ryan were elected as Sinn Féin TDs in 2020. However, both left the party before the election, running as independents. The 2024 election saw their first preference votes evaporate, with Wynne's diminishing by 96% and Ryan's by 93%, and both were eliminated extremely early. Some political commentators have suggested these might have been the greatest drops in first preference votes in Irish political history.

First time TDs

The 2024 election cycle was noted for the high rate of turnover in TDs. In this election, 66 candidates who had never sat in the Dáil previously were elected.

Aftermath

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael won a combined 86 seats, just two short of the 88 required for a majority. Political commentators suggested that these parties could form a government, either as a minority government supported by independents, or in coalition with Labour or the Social Democrats.

Sinn Féin, which increased its number of seats from 37 to 39, has begun negotiating with the same two parties to form a left-wing minority government.

The Green Party lost all but one of its 12 TDs, making it one of the heaviest defeats suffered by the party in its history. Only the party leader, Roderic O'Gorman, retained his seat.

The Social Democrats had their best election result to date, increasing their number of seats from 6 to 11. Party leader Holly Cairns, who won re-election in Cork South-West, will be on maternity leave for the first six months of the term as she gave birth to a daughter on election day, making her the first Irish party leader to give birth while in office. Party deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan stepped in as interim party leader in her absence.

The Labour Party increased its number of seats from six to 11. In a statement released after the election, Labour stated that it would only enter government with a "progressive, left-of-centre bloc with like-minded parties", as well as outlining their basic platform for negotiation. On 19 December, Labour stated that it would not join a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

On 17 December, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed to support Verona Murphy's candidacy for the position of Ceann Comhairle, in order to facilitate government formation talks between the two parties and the Regional Independent Group, of which Murphy was a member. The 34th Dáil met for the first time the next day and she was elected on the third count.

Negotiations on the formation of a coalition government continued over the Christmas and New Year period. On 15 January 2025, it was announced that an agreement had been reached to form a coalition government consisting of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a number of independents from the Independent and Regional Independents technical groups, with Micheál Martin to be nominated as Taoiseach and Simon Harris as Tánaiste, and with three independent TDs to receive junior ministries. A programme for government was published later that day. Controversy arose in the following days when it was announced that some of those independents who were supporting the new government's formation but would not be receiving ministries were seeking to form a Dáil technical group to retain opposition speaking time. This was condemned by opposition parties, with Sinn Féin threatening legal action if Verona Murphy, the Ceann Comhairle—who prior to her election to that office had been a member of that same technical group—permitted this to happen.

The Dáil resumed on 22 January, but procedural disputes over the technical group issue overshadowed events, resulting in chaotic scenes as the Dáil was suspended four times, with no nominations for Taoiseach being taken. Aontú resigned from the Regional Independent Group, and joined the Independent Group. On 23 January, Micheál Martin was elected again as Taoiseach in a 95-76 vote by the Dáil.

Seanad election

The Dáil election was followed by the 2025 Seanad election to the 27th Seanad, in which polls closed on the 29 and 30 January.

See also

* 2024 elections in the European Union

References

;Poll references

;General references

External links

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{{Irish elections

General
General election
General elections in the Republic of Ireland
34th Dáil