1994 Mayo West by-election

By-election to the 27th Dáil May 2026 May 2026 1994 Mayo West by-election Ireland by-election no 1992 Irish general election 1992 9 June 1994 1997 Irish general election 1997 29,123 (63.4%) First preferences Percentage Final count Michael Ring 2012.jpg 100 100 120 0 0 Michael Ring Fine Gael 10,390 35.7% 14,063 Cooper Flynn Beverley Cooper Flynn Fianna Fáil 10,967 37.7% 13,639 McGuinness Paddy McGuinness Independent politician (Ireland) 6,275 21.6% – TD Pádraig Flynn Fianna Fáil TD after election Michael Ring Fine Gael A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Mayo West in Ireland on Thursday, 9 June 1994, to fill a vacancy in the 27th Dáil. It followed the resignation of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) Pádraig Flynn on 4 January 1993 prior to his appointment as a European Commissioner. Timing On 22 December 1992, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds announced that the outgoing Fianna Fáil government had nominated Pádraig Flynn, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Industry and Commerce,Flynn had served as Minister for Justice from 11 February 1992. He was later appointed to the additional post of Minister for Industry and Commerce on 4 November 1992 when the Progressive Democrats left government. to be European Commissioner, to take up office on 5 January 1993.https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1992-12-22/2/ Nomination to EC Commission Dáil Debates 425 4 22 December 1992 8 July 2022 Houses of the Oireachtas Flynn resigned as a TD on 4 January 1993, and his portfolios were reassigned to other members of the government on that date.Nealon's Guide to the 27th Dáil and Seanad: Election '92 Ted Nealon Ted Nealon 1993 Gill & Macmillan 0717121135 135https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-01-05/2/ Ministerial Changes: Statement Dáil Debates 425 5 5 January 1993 10 August 2019 Houses of the Oireachtas 10 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190810145501/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-01-05/2/ live On 28 April 1993, a Democratic Left motion to issue the writ of election to fill the vacancy (and that in Dublin South-Central), opposed by the Fianna Fáil–Labour Party coalition government, was defeated by 46 to 80.https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-04-28/3/ Issue of Writs for By-Elections: Motion Dáil Debates 429 7 28 April 1993 Houses of the Oireachtas On 24 February 1994, a Fine Gael motion to issue the writs was defeated by 43 to 65.https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1994-02-24/7/ Issue of Writs: Motions - Dublin South-Central and Mayo West By-Elections Dáil Debates 439 4 24 February 1994 8 July 2022 Houses of the Oireachtas On 18 May 1994, a government motion to issue the writs was agreed.https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1994-05-18/3/ Mayo West By-Election Writ: Motion Dáil Debates 442 9 24 February 1994 8 July 2022 Houses of the Oireachtas It was held on 9 June 1994, the same day as the 1994 European Parliament election, the 1994 local elections, and the 1994 Dublin South-Central by-election. Writing in 1996, Michael Gallagher gave the 521 days between Flynn's resignation in January 1993 and the date of the by-election as the longest interval between the creation of a vacancy and the holding of the resultant by-election.Gallagher Michael Michael Gallagher (academic) By-elections to Dáil Éireann 1923–96: The anomaly that conforms Irish Political Studies 1996 11 1 36 10.1080/07907189608406556 https://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/about/people/michael_gallagher/IPSByElections1996.pdf It would later be surpassed by the delay of 5 June 2009 25 November 2010 days in holding the 2010 Donegal South-West by-election.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/court-declares-byelection-delay-unconstitutional-1.672130 Court declares byelection delay unconstitutional Carol Coulter Carol Coulter The Irish Times 4 November 2010 Result 1994 Mayo West by-electionGovernment of Ireland https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Official%20Publications/pdf/28thDail_June1997.pdf#page=78 28th Dáil general election: June, 1997: election results and transfer of votes 1998 76 Stationery Office Government of IrelandElectionsIreland.org https://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1992B&cons=177 1994 Mayo West 30 October 2010 14 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251014191902/https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1992B&cons=177 liveMayo West: 1994 by-election Ireland Election http://irelandelection.com/election.php?elecid=147&constitid=22&electype=2 23 April 2026 2 Beverley Cooper Flynn Fianna Fáil 37.7 10,967 13,639 Michael Ring Fine Gael 35.7 10,390 14,063 Paddy McGuinness Independent politician (Ireland) 21.6 6,275   Johnny Mee Labour Party (Ireland) 3.8 1,103   Jerry Cowley Independent politician (Ireland) 1.3 388   2 45,932 29,123 14,562 63.4% The by-election was won by the Fine Gael candidate, Michael Ring, who had served on Mayo County Council since 1991. Ring was introduced to the Dáil on 14 June by his constituency and party colleague, Enda Kenny.https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1994-06-14/10/ Returns to Writs: Mayo West and Dublin South-Central. Introduction of New Members Dáil Debates 443 7 14 June 1994 Houses of the Oireachtas Ring was returned at each subsequent general election until his retirement at the 2024 general election and served as Minister for Rural and Community Development from 2017 to 2020. Among the other candidates were Pádraig Flynn's daughter, Beverley Cooper Flynn, and Jerry Cowley, both of whom later served as TDs. Notes References Category:1994 in Irish politics 1994 Mayo West by-election Category:27th Dáil Mayo West 1994 Category:Elections in County Mayo Category:June 1994 in Europe