1989 Irish general election

Election to the 26th Dáil June 2021 July 2026 1989 Irish general election Ireland parliamentary no 1987 Irish general election 1987 25th Dáil 1992 Irish general election 1992 166 seats in Dáil ÉireannCC Including Seán Treacy (Ind), returned automatically for Tipperary South as outgoing Ceann Comhairle, under Art. 16.6 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 1963, as amended.1980 40 Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1980 23 December 1980 1 Amendment of section 14 of Electoral Act 196326th Dáil 1987: Tipperary South https://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1989&cons=219 13 August 2022 ElectionsIreland.org 84 15 June 1989 26th Dáil 68.5% 4.8 pp Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Charles Haughey 7 December 1979 Fianna Fáil Dublin North-Central 81 seats, 44.1% 77 4 731,472 44.1% 0.1 pp Alan Dukes, December 1996 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Alan Dukes 21 March 1987 Fine Gael Kildare 51 seats, 27.1% 55 4 485,307 29.3% 2.2 pp Dick Spring, April 1995 02 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Dick Spring November 1982 Labour Party (Ireland) Kerry North 12 seats, 6.5% 15 3 156,989 9.5% 3.1 pp Proinsias De Rossa, 1996 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Proinsias De Rossa 1988 Workers' Party (Ireland) Dublin North-West 4 seats, 3.8% 7 3 82,263 5.0% 1.2 pp Desmond O'Malley, 1979 (election box crop).tif 120 120 160 0 0 Desmond O'Malley 21 December 1985 Progressive Democrats Limerick East 14 seats, 11.9% 6 8 91,013 5.5% 6.3 pp GP — — Green Party (Ireland) — 0 seats, 0.4% 1 1 24,827 1.5% 1.1 pp 400px Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency. 400px Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency. Taoiseach Charles Haughey Fianna Fáil Taoiseach after election Charles Haughey Fianna Fáil The 1989 Irish general election to the 26th Dáil was held on Thursday, 15 June, three weeks after the dissolution of the 25th Dáil on 25 May by President Patrick Hillery, on the request of Taoiseach Charles Haughey. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, on the same day as the European Parliament election. The 26th Dáil met at Leinster House on 29 June to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. No government was formed on that date, but on 12 July, Haughey was re-appointed Taoiseach, forming the 21st government of Ireland, a coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. Campaign The general election of 1989 was precipitated by the defeat of the minority Fianna Fáil government in a private members motion regarding the provision of funds for AIDS sufferers (haemophiliacs who had been infected with contaminated blood products by the health service). While a general election was not necessary – the motion was not a vote of confidence, and therefore defeat was merely an embarrassment for the government – Charles Haughey, the Fianna Fáil leader, sought a dissolution of the Dáil. Opinion polls had shown that the party's strong performance in government had increased their popularity and an overall majority for Fianna Fáil could be a possibility. Also, rumours were current that the general election was called so that certain Fianna Fáil members could raise money privately for themselves. While these rumours were dismissed at the time, it was revealed more than ten years later that Ray Burke, Pádraig Flynn and Haughey himself had received substantial personal donations during the campaign.Coleman Shane Foot in Mouth: Famous Irish Political Gaffes 2006 1842103768 87 Mentor Books While it was thought that the general election would catch the opposition parties unprepared, they co-ordinated themselves and co-operated very quickly. Further cuts in spending, particularly in the health service, became the dominant issue. Alan Dukes was fighting his first (and as events would prove, his only) general election as leader of Fine Gael. His Tallaght Strategy had kept Fianna Fáil in power, governing as a minority, since 1987. The general election was held on the same day as the election to the European Parliament, and turnout was 68.5%. Results 26th 15 June 1989 January 1990 Election results and transfer of votes in general election (June, 1989) for twenty-sixth Dáil https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Official%20Publications/pdf/26thDail_June1989.pdf 13 August 2022 Houses of the Oireachtas Dublin Stationery Office26th Dáil 1989 General Election http://electionsireland.org/results/general/26dail.cfm 12 July 2009 ElectionsIreland.org 26 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090226212233/http://electionsireland.org/results/general/27dail.cfmDáil elections since 1918 http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm 12 July 2009 ARK Northern IrelandNohlen Dieter Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 978-3-8329-5609-7 1009–1017 Nomos Dieter Nohlen center|360px Fianna Fáil Charles Haughey 77 4 46.4 731,472 44.1 0 Fine Gael Alan Dukes 55 4 33.1 485,307 29.3 2.2 Labour Party (Ireland) Dick Spring 15 3 9.1 156,989 9.5 3.1 Workers' Party (Ireland) Proinsias De Rossa 7 3 4.2 82,263 5.0 1.2 Progressive Democrats Desmond O'Malley 6 8 3.6 91,013 5.5 6.3 Green Party (Ireland) None 1 1 0.6 24,827 1.5 1.1 Democratic Socialist Party (Ireland) Jim Kemmy 1 0 0.6 9,836 0.6 0.2 Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 0 0 0 20,003 1.2 0.7 Communist Party of Ireland James Stewart 0 0 0 342 0.0 — Independent politician (Ireland) N/A 4CC 1 2.4 54,761 3.3 0.7 20,779 166 0 1,677,592 2,448,810 68.5% |} Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (6,961 votes, 1 seat), Army Wives (6,966 votes) and Gay candidates (517 votes). No by-elections had taken place during the previous Dáil. Two seats were vacant at the dissolution of the 25th Dáil: in Sligo–Leitrim, caused by the resignation of the Fianna Fáil member Ray MacSharry, and in Dublin South-Central, caused by the death of Frank Cluskey.Dáil Éireann By Election Writs 1918–2005 http://www.electionsireland.org/results/general/byelectiondailwrits.cfm ElectionsIreland.org While Fianna Fáil had hoped to achieve an overall majority, the party lost seats. The result was a disaster for Fianna Fáil, particularly when the election was so unnecessary. Fine Gael made a small gain, but nothing substantial. The Progressive Democrats did badly, losing over half their deputies. The Labour Party and the Workers' Party gained working-class votes from Fianna Fáil but failed to make the big breakthrough, while Sinn Féin polled worse than its 1987 result. The Green Party won its first seat when Roger Garland was elected for Dublin South. Voting summary First preference vote #ddd 600px 350px Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil 44.15 Fine Gael Fine Gael 29.29 Labour Labour Party (Ireland) 9.48 Progressive Democrats Progressive Democrats 5.49 Workers' Workers' Party (Ireland) 4.97 Green Green Party (Ireland) 1.50 Sinn Féin Sinn Féin 1.21 Others #777777 0.61 Independent Independent politician (Ireland) 3.31 Seats summary Dáil seats #ddd 600px 350px Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil 46.39 Fine Gael Fine Gael 33.13 Labour Labour Party (Ireland) 9.03 Workers' Workers' Party (Ireland) 4.22 Progressive Democrats Progressive Democrats 3.61 Green Green Party (Ireland) 0.60 Democratic Socialist Democratic Socialist Party (Ireland) 0.60 Independent Independent politician (Ireland) 2.41 Government formation Forming a government proved to be extremely difficult. Many in Fianna Fáil had hoped that the minority government could continue where it left off, particularly if the Tallaght Strategy continued. However, Fine Gael refused to support the government and so a deadlock developed. The prospect of forming a government seemed remote, so much so that Charles Haughey was forced to formally resign as Taoiseach. For the first time in Irish history a Taoiseach and a government had not been appointed when the new Dáil met. However, twenty-seven days after the general election, Fianna Fáil entered into a coalition for the first time in its history – with the Progressive Democrats, forming the 21st Government of Ireland, led by Haughey as Taoiseach. In February 1992, Haughey resigned and was succeeded as Taoiseach by Albert Reynolds, forming the 22nd Government of Ireland, continuing in coalition with the Progressive Democrats. Dáil membership changes The following changes took place as a result of the election: 14 outgoing TDs retired 1 vacant seat at election time 150 outgoing TDs stood for re-election (also Seán Treacy, the outgoing Ceann Comhairle who was automatically returned) 124 of those were re-elected 26 failed to be re-elected 41 successor TDs were elected 32 were elected for the first time 9 had previously been TDs There were 4 successor female TDs, replacing 5 outgoing, thus reducing the total by 1 to 13 There were changes in 30 of the 41 constituencies contested Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only. Constituency Departing TD Party Change Comment Successor TD Party Carlow–Kilkenny Kieran Crotty Fine Gael Retired John Browne Fine Gael Martin Gibbons Progressive Democrats Lost seat Phil Hogan Fine Gael Cavan–Monaghan Tom Fitzpatrick Fine Gael Retired Bill Cotter Fine Gael Clare No membership changes Cork East Patrick Hegarty Fine Gael Lost seat Paul Bradford Fine Gael Cork North-Central Liam Burke Fine Gael Lost seat Gerry O'Sullivan Labour Party Cork North-West Donal Moynihan Fianna Fáil Lost seat Laurence Kelly Fianna Fáil Donal Creed Fine Gael Retired Son of outgoing TD Michael Creed Fine Gael Cork South-Central Batt O'Keeffe Fianna Fáil Lost seat Micheál Martin Fianna Fáil Cork South-West No membership changes Donegal North-East Hugh Conaghan Fianna Fáil Lost seat Jim McDaid Fianna Fáil Donegal South-West No membership changes Dublin Central Michael Keating Progressive Democrats Retired Pat Lee Fine Gael Dublin North John Boland Fine Gael Lost seat Owen – Former TD Nora Owen Fine Gael G. V. Wright Fianna Fáil Lost seat Seán Ryan Labour Party Dublin North-Central George Birmingham Fine Gael Lost seat Ivor Callely Fianna Fáil Dublin North-East No membership changes Dublin North-West No membership changes Dublin South John Kelly Fine Gael Retired Fennell – Former TD Nuala Fennell Fine Gael Anne Colley Progressive Democrats Lost seat Roger Garland Green Party Dublin South-Central Frank Cluskey Labour Party Vacant seatCluskey had died on 7 May 1989. Eric Byrne Workers' Party Mary Mooney Fianna Fáil Lost seat O'Connell – Former TD John O'Connell Fianna Fáil Dublin South-East Michael McDowell Progressive Democrats Lost seat Doyle – Former TD Joe Doyle Fine Gael Dublin South-West Seán Walsh Fianna Fáil Lost Seat Pat Rabbitte Workers' Party Dublin West Patrick O'Malley Progressive Democrats Lost seat Austin Currie Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire Barry Desmond Labour Party Retired Eamon Gilmore Workers' Party Geraldine Kennedy Progressive Democrats Lost seat Brian Hillery Fianna Fáil Galway East No membership changes Galway West John Donnellan Fine Gael Retired Pádraic McCormack Fine Gael Kerry North Denis Foley Fianna Fáil Lost seat McEllistrim – Former TD Tom McEllistrim Fianna Fáil Kerry South Michael Begley Fine Gael Lost seat Moynihan – Former TD Michael Moynihan Labour Party Kildare Paddy Power Fianna Fáil Retired Seán Power Fianna Fáil Laois–Offaly No membership changes Limerick East No membership changes Limerick West John McCoy Progressive Democrats Retired Michael Finucane Fine Gael Longford–Westmeath Henry Abbott Fianna Fáil Lost seat Louis Belton Fine Gael Patrick Cooney Fine Gael Retired Paul McGrath Fine Gael Louth No membership changes Mayo East No membership changes Mayo West Denis Gallagher Fianna Fáil Retired Martin O'Toole Fianna Fáil Meath Michael Lynch Fianna Fáil Lost seat Mary Wallace Fianna Fáil Roscommon Seán Doherty Fianna Fáil Lost seat Tom Foxe Independent Liam Naughten Fine Gael Lost seat Connor – Former TD John Connor Fine Gael Sligo–Leitrim Ray MacSharry Fianna Fáil ResignedRay MacSharry became European Commissioner in 1988. The writ for the by-election was issued on 16 May 1989, but the ensuing by-election was cancelled due to the dissolution of the Dáil. Gerry Reynolds Fine Gael Tipperary North No membership changes Tipperary South Brendan Griffin Fine Gael Lost seat Theresa Ahearn Fine Gael Seán McCarthy Fianna Fáil Lost seat Michael Ferris Labour Party Waterford Brian Swift Fianna Fáil Lost seat Brendan Kenneally Fianna Fáil Martin Cullen Progressive Democrats Lost seat Brian O'Shea Labour Party Wexford Hugh Byrne Fianna Fáil Lost seat Séamus Cullimore Fianna Fáil Avril Doyle Fine Gael Lost seat D'Arcy – Former TD Michael D'Arcy Fine Gael Wicklow Gemma Hussey Fine Gael Retired Timmins – Former TD Godfrey Timmins Fine Gael Seanad election The Dáil election was followed by the election to the 19th Seanad. Notes References Further reading Hogan Gerard Gerard Hogan 1989 Legal and constitutional issues arising from the 1989 general election The Irish Jurist 24 2 157–181 O'Leary Brendan Brendan O'Leary Peterson John 1990 Further Europeanisation? The Irish General Election of June 1989 West European Politics 13 1 124–136 10.1080/01402389008424784 Nealon Ted Nealon's guide: 26th Dáil & Seanad: election '89 1989 Platform Press 0950598496 Ted Nealon Sinnott Richard Irish voters decide: Voting behaviour in elections and referendums since 1918 1995 Manchester University Press 9780719040375 Richard Sinnott External links GuthanPhobail.net, Results ga Category:1989 in Irish politics 1989 Category:26th Dáil Category:June 1989 in Europe Category:1989 elections in the Republic of Ireland