2024 Seanad by-election

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A by-election was due to be held for a vacancy in Seanad Éireann on Monday, 29 April 2024.[1] The vacancy was caused by the resignation for health reasons of Sinn Féin's Niall Ó Donnghaile from the Administrative Panel on 22 January 2024.[2][3] At the close of nominations on 22 March 2024, only one candidate had been nominated, and Mal O'Hara of the Green Party was elected unopposed.

Election system[edit]

When a vacancy occurs in the vocational panels, the electorate in by-elections consists of Oireachtas members only. For this election, it will consist of 160 TDs and 58 senators.[1] To be nominated, a candidate must have the signature of nine members of the Oireachtas. Nominations close on 22 March 2024 at 12 noon. Ballot papers will be issued on 15 April 2024 and the polls will close at 11 a.m. on 29 April 2024.

All votes are cast by postal ballot, and are counted using the single transferable vote. Under this system, voters can rank candidates in order of their preference, 1 as their first preference, 2 for second preference, and so on. Ballots are initially given a value of 1,000 to allow calculation of the quota (Droop quota) where all ballots are distributed in the case of a surplus.

Process and dates[edit]

Niall Ó Donnghaile resigned on 22 January 2024,[2] with a notice of the vacancy sent to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 7 March 2024.[4] The minister is required to make a Seanad by-election order within 180 days after receiving a notice of a vacancy.[5] On 8 March 2024, Minister Darragh O'Brien made an order for the by-election which set the following dates:[1]

  • 22 March 2024: close of receiving nominations;
  • 8 April 2024: ruling on nominations;
  • 15 April 2024: issuing of ballot papers;
  • 29 April 2024, at 11 a.m.: close of poll.

Campaign[edit]

Mal O'Hara was announced as the Green Party candidate on 12 March 2024.[6] On 25 March 2024, it was reported that O'Hara would be unopposed.[7] He took his seat on 8 April 2024.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Seanad Bye-Election". Government of Ireland. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Resignation of Member". Oireachtas. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Seanad by-election expected to be held in coming weeks". RTÉ News. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Casual Vacancy: Motion – Seanad Éireann (26th Seanad)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  5. ^ Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, s. 56: Seanad bye-election order (No. 42 of 1947, s. 56). Enacted on 19 December 1947. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 11 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Green Party nominates Mal O'Hara as Seanad candidate". Green Party Northern Ireland. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Leader of Green Party in NI elected unopposed to Seanad". RTÉ News. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Mal O'Hara: Green Party NI leader becomes Irish senator". BBC News. 8 April 2024.
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