1997 Irish general election

Election to the 28th Dáil June 2021 March 2023 1997 Irish general election Ireland parliamentary no 1992 Irish general election 1992 27th Dáil 2002 Irish general election 2002 166 seats in Dáil Éireann 84 6 June 1997 28th Dáil 65.9% 2.6 pp Bertie Ahern 1997 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Bertie Ahern 19 December 1994 Fianna Fáil Dublin Central 68 seats, 39.1% 77 9 703,700 39.3% 0.2 pp John Bruton, December 1999 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 John Bruton 20 November 1990 Fine Gael Meath 45 seats, 24.5% 54 9 499,900 27.9% 3.4 pp Dick Spring, April 1995 02 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Dick Spring November 1982 Labour Party (Ireland) Kerry North 33 seats, 19.3% 17 16 186,000 10.4% 8.9 pp Mary Harney, 2004 (headshot).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Mary Harney 12 October 1993 Progressive Democrats Dublin South-West 10 seats, 4.7% 4 6 83,800 4.7% 0.0 pp Proinsias De Rossa, 1996 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Proinsias De Rossa 1992 Democratic Left (Ireland) Dublin North-West 4 seats, 2.8% 4 0 44,900 2.5% 0.3 pp GP None N/A Green Party (Ireland) N/A 1 seat, 1.4% 2 1 49,300 2.8% 1.4 pp Gerry Adams, 1997.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Gerry Adams 13 November 1983 Sinn Féin Did not standsf 0 1 1 45,614 2.5% 0.9 pp Joe Higgins TD, 2014.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Joe Higgins Socialist Party (Ireland) Dublin West Did not exist 1 1 12,445 0.7% New 400px Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency. 400px Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency. Taoiseach Taoiseach after election John Bruton Fine Gael Bertie Ahern Fianna Fáil The 1997 Irish general election to the 28th Dáil was held on Friday, 6 June, following the dissolution of the 27th Dáil on 15 May by President Mary Robinson, on the request of Taoiseach John Bruton. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, under a revision in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995. The two largest parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, increased both their vote totals and representation, while both the junior parties in the Dáil, the Labour Party and the Progressive Democrats, had disastrous campaigns that saw their representation in the Dáil slashed by 50% or greater. However, some of the other minor parties in the Dáil saw improvements: for the first time in 75 years a Sinn Féin TD took their seat in the Dáil after Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was elected, while the Green Party added a second TD and the Socialist Party gained their first ever national representative in Joe Higgins. Following the election, the 28th Dáil met at Leinster House on 26 June to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Bertie Ahern was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 25th government of Ireland, a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. The election has been described by Irish Independent journalist Shane Coleman as a prelude to the "golden years" of the Celtic Tiger, and thus one of the most significant general elections in Irish history. Background The maximum amount of time between a general election in Ireland is five years, and thus the governing Rainbow Coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left knew an election would have to be called in mid to late 1997. Fine Gael had wanted to wait until the autumn to call the election, but Labour were keen to fight their campaign in the summer. Anticipating the election, on 14 April 1997 during their annual party conference, Labour leader Dick Spring declared "I will not, in the aftermath of the next general election, come before you and recommend any form of coalition with either of the parties that make up the centre-right alternative, the Progressive Democrats or Fianna Fail", which ruled out the possibility of Labour being able to play kingmaker between possible coalition blocs.Gary Murphy 19 October 2007 The 1997 general election in the republic of Ireland https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907189808406588?journalCode=fips20 Irish Political Studies 13 1 127–134 10.1080/07907189808406588 11 February 2023 subscription Both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were delighted by the decision to hold the election in the summer instead of the autumn; Fianna Fáil in particular feared the release in October or November of the report by the McCracken Tribunal, which was investing allegations that Ben Dunne Jnr. had bribed members of Fianna Fáil and that they had aided him in tax evasion.Coleman Shane 3 June 2022 Changes and a charm offensive: how Bertie Ahern propelled himself over the Rainbow in the 1997 election https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/changes-and-a-charm-offensive-how-bertie-ahern-propelled-himself-over-the-rainbow-in-the-1997-election-41715372.html Irish Independent 11 February 2023 The 1997 general election saw the public offered a choice of two possible coalitions. The existing government was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left – called the Rainbow Coalition, while the opposition "alternative coalition" consisted of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. Campaigns Rainbow coalition (Fine Gael, Labour, Democratic Left) The outgoing Rainbow parties campaigned to re-elect the coalition and thus emphasized the working relationship that they had developed, running with the slogan 'Partnership That Works'.23 September 2009 "Partnership That Works" -Rainbow Coalition Flyer 1997 election Irish Election Literature https://irishelectionliterature.com/2009/09/23/partnership-that-works-rainbow-coalition-flyer-1997-election/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201205080340/https://irishelectionliterature.com/2009/09/23/partnership-that-works-rainbow-coalition-flyer-1997-election/ 5 December 2020 17 December 2020 They claimed credit for a booming economy, improving social services and reforms such as the introduction of divorce. Despite this united front, each party fought its own campaign. Labour emphasised the number of campaign pledges it had managed to implement not only as part of the Rainbow government but also during its coalition with Fianna Fáil. Fianna Fáil campaign Fianna Fáil under Bertie Ahern had been restructuring itself after its turbulent period under Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds. The party's central office gained control of candidate selection and modernised its campaigning strategy, especially concerning vote management and controlling transfers under Ireland's PR electoral system. In addition, the bitter internal feuding that had dogged the party for decades was ended by Ahern's more unifying style of leadership. This leadership also allowed Fianna Fáil to run a very energetic campaign that emphasised Ahern's relative youth and enthusiasm, which distanced the party from scandals that had beset the party.Bertie Episode 3 - United We Stand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiT6cBsBNrQ live https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/YiT6cBsBNrQ 2021-12-05 YouTube Progressive Democrats' campaign Despite entering the election with polls suggesting they would overtake Labour as the third biggest party, and with Mary Harney as the most popular party leader, the Progressive Democrats struggled. Initially, the party ran a presidential-style campaign that emphasised Harney. However, entering a pact with a resurgent Fianna Fáil meant it struggled to assert itself. In response, the PDs hastily published a manifesto — a move that backfired as it controversially called for single parent benefits to be cut in order to encourage single mothers to live with their parents. This drew fire from Proinsias De Rossa, who claimed Harney did "not have a bull's notion about social welfare".Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The PDs: From Boom to Bust Part 1 - Party On RTÉ Documentary 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TMuY3naTwI&t=385s YouTube The Progressive Democrats' manifesto also called for the laying off of 25,000 public sector workers over five years, a proposal that was heavily criticised by the left-wing parties. In response, Fianna Fáil's leadership demanded a sit-down meeting with the Progressive Democrat leadership, and after the two parties publicly announced together that no layoffs would be made in the public sector without the consent of Irish trade unions. Harney also claimed her comments about unwed mothers had been misrepresented by the media. Party slogans/Manifestos + PartySlogan/Manifesto nameRefs Fine Gael Fianna Fáil People before Politics https://irishelectionliterature.com/2011/01/05/flyer-for-pat-carey-noel-ahern-fianna-fail-1997-ge-dublin-north-west/ Flyer for Pat Carey, Noel Ahern -Fianna Fail- 1997 GE Dublin North West 5 January 2011 https://irishelectionliterature.com/2010/02/26/noel-whelan-eoin-ryan-fianna-fail-1997-ge-dublin-south-east/ Noel Whelan, Eoin Ryan -Fianna Fail- 1997 GE Dublin South East 26 February 2010 Labour Party Labour makes the vital difference Labour Party 1997Progressive Democrats Real answers, not idle promises https://irishelectionliterature.com/2010/05/10/mary-heaslip-progressive-democrats-1997-general-election-wicklow/ Mary Heaslip -Progressive Democrats -1997 General Election -Wicklow 10 May 2010 Democratic Left Make the future work https://irishelectionliterature.com/2009/09/18/democratic-left-1997-manifesto-make-the-future-work/#more-855 Democratic Left 1997 Manifesto- 'Make the Future Work' 18 September 2009 Green Party For Quality of Life Green Party 2019Sinn Féin Building a dynamic for change A New Opportunity for Peace http://www.sinnfein.org/releases/97dailmanifesto/index_nf.html Sinn Fein Leinster House Election Manifesto 1997 Socialist Party Campaign topics Sinn Féin and Northern Ireland 1997 was a pivotal year politically across the island of Ireland as the Troubles drew to an end and progress towards the forthcoming Good Friday Agreement was being made. Inevitably, the issue of Sinn Féin's participation in the election and each party's policy on Northern Ireland came up repeatedly during the campaign. Previous to the May 1997 United Kingdom general election, leader of Fine Gael John Bruton declared that if the IRA had not declared a ceasefire, then a vote for Sinn Féin would be a vote for violence. However, on 26 May, Labour leader and coalition partner Dick Spring stated that a vote for Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland would be a vote for peace. The opposition in the Dáil responded by declaring that the government was sending out mixed messaging about Sinn Féin and Northern Ireland. In late May/early June, Bernie Ahern began attacking Bruton on the topic of Northern Ireland, criticising Bruton for not being the leading voice of "Nationalist Ireland" and promising that he would take this mantle if elected Taoiseach. Simultaneously, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams involved himself in the election by criticising Bruton's handling of the peace process. On 31 May, an active Provisional IRA landmine was discovered in Belfast, prompting Bruton to state he would "think very hard" before allowing any further contact between members of the government and Sinn Féin. Afterwards, the leader of the Democratic Left, Proinsias De Rossa, asked Ahern to clarify his "electoral support for Sinn Féin". Ahern denied he had ever lent support to Sinn Féin and went further by stating categorially he would rule Sinn Féin out of any possible coalition talks following the election. Ahern justified this by saying it would send the wrong message to Unionists in Northern Ireland to add Sinn Féin to a coalition. Crime The murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996 by drug lords in Dublin ensured that the subject of crime was a pressing one during the election. Although Fine Gael had traditionally been the "party of law and order" in Ireland, Fianna Fáil were able to seize on the subject of crime and declared they would have a "zero tolerance" approach to crime. Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Crime, John O'Donoghue, was able to dictate the conversation and was also able, previous to the election, to convince the government to support his bill which gave greater powers to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Opinion polls Polling firm Date FF FG Lab PDs DL GP Ind/OthIrish Times/MRBI7 June4427843311Independent Newspapers-IMS2 June442995236Irish Times/MRBI28 May4226117248Independent Newspapers-IMS29 May4029116248Independent Newspapers-IMS26 May41261052412Irish Times/MRBI20 May4326107239Irish Times/MRBI5 May4326128236 Results PartyFianna FáilFine GaelLabour PartyProgressive DemocratsGreen PartySinn FéinDemocratic LeftSocialist PartyLeaderBertie AhernJohn BrutonDick SpringMary Harney—Gerry AdamsProinsias De RossaJoe HigginsVotes39.3%, 703,68227.9%, 499,93610.4%, 186,0444.7%, 83,7652.8%, 49,3232.5%, 45,6142.5%, 44,9010.7%, 12,44539.3 66BB6627.9 6699FF10.4 CC00004.7 3333CC2.8 99CC332.5 0088002.5 C700C70.8 FF3300Seats 77 (46.4%) 54 (32.5%) 17 (10.2%) 4 (2.4%) 2 (1.2%) 1 (0.6%) 4 (2.4%) 1 (0.6%)46.4 66BB6632.5 6699FF10.2 CC00002.4 3333CC1.2 99CC330.6 0088002.4 C700C70.6 FF3300 + ↓ 77 4 6 54 17 4 Fianna Fáil PD Inds Fine Gael Labour DL Vote Share of different parties in the election. yes 39.3 Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil 27.9 Fine Gael Fine Gael 10.4 Labour Party Labour Party (Ireland) 4.7 Progressive Democrats Progressive Democrats 2.8 Green Party Green Party (Ireland) 2.5 Sinn Féin Sinn Féin 2.5 Democratic Left Democratic Left (Ireland) 1.1 National Party National Party (Ireland, 1995) 0.6 Socialist Party Socialist Party (Ireland) 28th 6 June 1997 Government of Ireland https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Official%20Publications/pdf/28thDail_June1997.pdf 28th Dáil general election: June, 1997: election results and transfer of votes 1993 Houses of the Oireachtas Stationery Office Government of Ireland 15 August 202228th Dáil – General Election: 6 June 1997 http://electionsireland.org/results/general/28dail.cfm live https://web.archive.org/web/20090226195411/http://electionsireland.org/results/general/28dail.cfm 26 February 2009 9 April 2009 ElectionsIreland.orgNohlen Dieter Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 978-3-8329-5609-7 1009–1017 Nomos Dieter Nohlen center|360px Fianna Fáil Bertie Ahern 77 10 46.4 703,682 39.3 0.2 Fine Gael John Bruton 54 9 32.5 499,936 27.9 3.4 Labour Party (Ireland) Dick Spring 17 16 10.2 186,044 10.4 8.9 Progressive Democrats Mary Harney 4 6 2.4 83,765 4.7 ±0.0 Green Party (Ireland) — 2 1 1.2 49,323 2.8 1.4 Sinn Féin Gerry Adamssf Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Féin, was an MP for Belfast West. After the election, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin became sole member of the Sinn Féin parliamentary party. 1 1 0.6 45,614 2.5 0.9 Democratic Left (Ireland) Proinsias De Rossa 4 0 2.4 44,901 2.5 0.3 National Party (Ireland, 1995) Nora Bennis 0 New 0 19,077 1.1 New Socialist Party (Ireland) Joe Higgins 1 New 0.6 12,445 0.7 New Christian Solidarity Party Gerard Casey 0 New 0 8,357 0.5 New Workers' Party (Ireland) Tom French 0 0 0 7,808 0.4 0.3 Socialist Workers Party (Ireland) N/A 0 New 0 2,028 0.1 New Natural Law Party (Ireland) N/A 0 New 0 1,515 0.1 New South Kerry Independent Alliance 0 New 0 1,388 0.1 New Independent politician (Ireland) N/A 6 2 3.6 123,102 7.9 1.1 17,947 166 0 1,806,932 2,741,262 65.9% |} The outgoing Ceann Comhairle retired at this election. Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (11,607 votes, 1 seat). Voting summary First preference vote #ddd 600px 350px Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil 39.33 Fine Gael Fine Gael 27.95 Labour Labour Party (Ireland) 10.40 Progressive Democrats Progressive Democrats 4.68 Green Green Party (Ireland) 2.76 Sinn Féin Sinn Féin 2.55 Democratic Left Democratic Left (Ireland) 2.51 National National Party (Ireland, 1995) 1.07 Socialist Socialist Party (Ireland) 0.70 Others #777777 1.18 Independent Independent politician (Ireland) 6.88 Seats summary Dáil seats #ddd 600px 350px Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil 46.39 Fine Gael Fine Gael 32.53 Labour Labour Party (Ireland) 10.24 Progressive Democrats Progressive Democrats 2.41 Democratic Left Democratic Left (Ireland) 2.41 Green Green Party (Ireland) 1.20 Sinn Féin Sinn Féin 0.60 Socialist Socialist Party (Ireland) 0.60 Independent Independent politician (Ireland) 3.61 Fianna Fáil increased its representation, but the Progressive Democrats had a disastrous election, maintaining its share of the vote, but winning only four seats compared to ten at the previous election, losing seats thought safe such as Cork North-Central and Dún Laoghaire. Although Fine Gael gained seats, it entered opposition due to seat losses of its government coalition colleagues. One of the main features of the election, was the collapse of the Labour Party vote. Not only did it lose seats it had picked up in the 1992 general election, when its vote was at an all-time high – such as in Clare and Laois–Offaly – but it also lost reasonably safe seats, such as in Dublin North, Dublin Central and Cork South-Central. Dick Spring would retire as leader of the Labour Party later that year, after further disappointment in the presidential election. Democratic Left also suffered, losing its two gains made in by-elections during the 27th Dáil. The Green Party won a second seat, with John Gormley elected in Dublin South-East. He was elected by just over 30 votes after a recount lasting four days saw Progressive Democrat Michael McDowell defeated. The loss of McDowell was particularly stinging to the Progressive Democrats as McDowell was their "chief ideologue". Sinn Féin won its first Dáil seat since 1957, with the party winning a seat in Cavan–Monaghan with the election of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. It also narrowly missed a seat in Kerry North. When Ó Caoláin took his seat in the Dáil, it was the first time since 1922 that a member of Sinn Féin had done so, having abandoned its policy of abstention with regard to the Dáil in 1986.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51509076 Irish election: Recalling when the Dáil was a Sinn Féin 'cold house' 16 February 2020 BBC News 28 December 2020 17 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135203/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51509076 liveWhite 2017 292Feeney 2002 10 Ó Caoláin's entry into the Dáil marked a major turning point in the history of Sinn Féin, which would continue thereafter to hold a presence in the Dáil. The Socialist Party, a Trotskyist party which consisted of former members of the Labour Party expelled in 1989, won its first seat in Dublin West. Government formation Following the election, none of the major parties had a clear majority. Negotiations resulted in a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition taking office. Four Independent Teachta Dála (TDs) also supported the government ensuring a working majority. Bertie Ahern became the Taoiseach while Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats became Tánaiste. Dáil membership changes The following changes took place as a result of the election: 17 outgoing TDs retired, including the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Treacy 149 TDs stood for re-election 121 were re-elected 28 failed to be re-elected 45 successor TDs were elected 32 were elected for the first time 13 had previously been TDs There were 6 successor female TDs, replacing 9 outgoing, decreasing the total number by 3 to 20 There were changes in 34 of the 41 constituencies contested Outgoing TDs are listed in the constituency they contested in the election. For some, such as Kildare North, this differs from the constituency they represented in the outgoing Dáil. 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 M. J. Nolan Fianna Fáil Lost seat John McGuinness Fianna Fáil Cavan–Monaghan Jimmy Leonard Fianna Fáil Retired Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin Sinn Féin Clare Moosajee Bhamjee Labour Party Retired Daly – Former TD Brendan Daly Fianna Fáil Cork East John Mulvihill Labour Party Lost seat David Stanton Fine Gael Cork North-Central Kathleen Lynch Democratic Left Lost seat Noel O'Flynn Fianna Fáil Máirín Quill Progressive Democrats Lost seat Billy Kelleher Fianna Fáil Cork North-West Frank Crowley Fine Gael Lost seat Michael Moynihan Fianna Fáil Cork South-Central Peter Barry Fine Gael Retired Deirdre Clune Fine Gael Toddy O'Sullivan Labour Party Lost seat Dennehy – Former TD John Dennehy Fianna Fáil Cork South-West No membership changes Donegal North-East Paddy Harte Fine Gael Lost seat Harry Blaney Ind. Fianna Fáil Donegal South-West Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Fianna Fáil Retired Tom Gildea Independent Dublin Central Joe Costello Labour Party Lost seat Marian McGennis Fianna Fáil Dublin North Seán Ryan Labour Party Lost seat Wright – Former TD G. V. Wright Fianna Fáil Dublin North-Central No membership changes Dublin North-East Seán Kenny Labour Party Lost seat Cosgrave – Former TD Michael Joe Cosgrave Fine Gael Liam Fitzgerald Fianna Fáil Lost seat Martin Brady Fianna Fáil Dublin North-West Mary Flaherty Fine Gael Lost seat Pat Carey Fianna Fáil Dublin South Eithne FitzGerald Labour Party Lost seat Olivia Mitchell Fine Gael Dublin South-Central Eric Byrne Democratic Left Lost seat Seán Ardagh Fianna Fáil Dublin South-East Michael McDowell Progressive Democrats Lost seat John Gormley Green Party Dublin South-West Éamonn Walsh Labour Party Lost seat Conor Lenihan Fianna Fáil Mervyn Taylor Labour Party Retired Brian Hayes Fine Gael Dublin West Joan Burton Labour Party Lost seat Joe Higgins Socialist Party Dún Laoghaire Niamh Bhreathnach Labour Party Lost seat Mary Hanafin Fianna Fáil Helen Keogh Progressive Democrats Lost seat Barnes – Former TD Monica Barnes Fine Gael Galway East New seat Ulick Burke Fine Gael Galway West Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil Retired Fahey – Former TD Frank Fahey Fianna Fáil Kerry North No membership changes Kerry South John O'Leary Fianna Fáil Retired Jackie Healy-Rae Independent Kildare North No membership changes Kildare South New constituency, new seat Jack Wall Labour Party Laois–Offaly Liam Hyland Fianna Fáil Retired Seán Fleming Fianna Fáil Pat Gallagher Labour Party Lost seat Enright – Former TD Tom Enright Fine Gael Ger Connolly Fianna Fáil Retired John Moloney Fianna Fáil Limerick East Peadar Clohessy Progressive Democrats Retired Eddie Wade Fianna Fáil Limerick West Gerry Collins Fianna Fáil Retired Michael Collins Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan Fianna Fáil Retired Dan Neville Fine Gael Longford–Roscommon John Connor Fine Gael Lost seat Denis Naughten Fine Gael Tom Foxe Independent Lost seat Belton – Former TD Louis Belton Fine Gael Louth No membership changes Mayo P. J. Morley Fianna Fáil Lost seat Beverley Flynn Fianna Fáil Séamus Hughes Fianna Fáil Lost seat Constituency reduced to 5 seats Meath Colm Hilliard Fianna Fáil Retired Johnny Brady Fianna Fáil Brian Fitzgerald Labour Party Lost seat Farrelly – Former TD John V. Farrelly Fine Gael Sligo–Leitrim Ted Nealon Fine Gael Retired John Perry Fine Gael Declan Bree Labour Party Lost seat Reynolds – Former TD Gerry Reynolds Fine Gael Tipperary North John Ryan Labour Party Retired O'Kennedy – Former TD Michael O'Kennedy Fianna Fáil Tipperary South Seán Treacy Independent Retired Constituency seats from 4 to 3 Waterford No membership changes Westmeath No membership changes Wexford Avril Doyle Fine Gael Lost seat D'Arcy – Former TD Michael D'Arcy Fine Gael Wicklow Godfrey Timmins Fine Gael Retired Billy Timmins Fine Gael Liam Kavanagh Labour Party Lost seat Roche – Former TD Dick Roche Fianna Fáil Seanad election The Dáil election was followed by the election to the 21st Seanad. Notes References Further reading Feeney Brian Sinn Féin : a hundred turbulent years 2002 O'Brien Dublin 978-0862786953 Nealon Ted Nealon's guide to the 28th Dáil & Seanad: election '97 1997 Gill & Macmillan 0717126749 Dublin Ted Nealon White Robert W. Out of the ashes : an oral history of provisional Irish Republican movement (Social movements vs terrorism) 2017 Merrion Press 9781785370939 External links 1997 election: Party leaders' debate RTÉ archives Fianna Fail Election Manifesto 1997 Irish general election General election, 1997 Category:1997 in Irish politics 1997 Category:28th Dáil Category:June 1997 in Europe