Funferal

More election news, and senate predictions

Well, we’re out the far side of the general election here in Ireland. Its been a bad one for Fine Gael (lost 24 seats, ending at 31, and 20% of their vote, ending up with about 22%), and a poor one for Labour (we stayed on 21 seats, and sank to 10.7%). This wouldn’t be too bad, but we were hoping to gain from the merger with Democratic Left, and haven’t.

I’ve been casting an eye over the Seanad (Senate) elections, and Labour looks to win between 3 and 6 seats, depending on a number of factors. Hopefully Brendan Ryan will keep his seat on the NUI panel. Ivana Bajik stands a chance in the TCD panel, while our votes in the electorates for the 5 ‘vocational’ panels (83 councillors and 21 TDs, less whatever overlap there is) should give us 2-3 seats anyhow. Add to that Des Geraghty, who will take the Labour whip but should pull votes from elsewhere, and we have a reasonably respectable number.

I would assume that our candidates for these panels will include Derek McDowell, and probably Jim Townsend, who lost narrowly in Carlow. Eithne Fitzgerald and Kathleen O’Meara may also seek nominations, but may be less likely. Peter Ward, may be rewarded despite his poor showing in Meath.