2013 Meath East by-election

By-election to the 31st Dáil October 2014 April 2026 2013 Meath East by-election Ireland by-election no 2011 Irish general election 2011 27 March 2013 2016 Irish general election 2016 24,568 (38.3%) First preferences Percentage Final count Helen McEntee in 2018.jpg 110 100 120 0 5 Helen McEntee Fine Gael 9,356 38.5% 11,473 Thomas Byrne.jpg 110 100 120 0 5 Thomas Byrne Fianna Fáil 8,002 32.9% 9,582 Darren O'Rourke Sinn Féin 013.jpg 110 100 120 0 5 Darren O'Rourke Sinn Féin 3,165 13.0% – Meath East (Dáil Éireann constituency).png 200px Meath East shown within Ireland TD Shane McEntee Fine Gael TD after election Helen McEntee Fine Gael A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Meath East in Ireland on Wednesday, 27 March 2013, to fill a vacancy in the 31st Dáil. It followed the death of the Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Shane McEntee on 21 December 2012.http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0305/373496-meath-east-by-election/ Meath East by-election set for 27 March RTÉ News 5 March 2013 5 March 2013 29 October 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191500/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0305/373496-meath-east-by-election/ live The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0014/sec0002.html Irish Statute Book Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 7 January 2013 9 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141009165339/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0014/sec0002.html live The electorate of Meath East at the 2011 general election was 64,873.http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2011&cons=731 Meath East – General Election: 25 February 2011 ElectionsIreland.org 7 January 2013 23 March 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130323053944/http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2011&cons=731 live Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, daughter of the deceased TD, was elected on the third count.http://www.rte.ie/news/byelection2013/ Meath East by-election 2013 RTÉ News 28 March 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130401004359/http://www.rte.ie/news/byelection2013/ 1 April 2013 Candidates On 22 February 2013, both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin selected their candidates for the by-election. Fianna Fáil selected Senator Thomas Byrne, a former TD for the constituency.http://www.thejournal.ie/meath-east-candidates-803932-Feb2013/ Parties set to choose Meath East by-election candidates TheJournal.ie 21 February 2013 2 March 2013 23 February 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130223195848/http://www.thejournal.ie/meath-east-candidates-803932-Feb2013/ live Sinn Féin selected Darren O'Rourke, a medical scientist who worked as a health policy advisor to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. The Workers' Party announced that Seamus McDonagh, a spokesperson for the local Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) campaign, would contest the election.http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/02/22/4014587-byelection-picking-up-steam-as-parties-select-runners/print By-election picking up steam as parties select runners The Meath Chronicle 22 February 2013 25 February 2013 12 April 2013 https://archive.today/20130412223404/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/02/22/4014587-byelection-picking-up-steam-as-parties-select-runners/print live On 5 March, the Green Party selected Seán Ó Buachalla as its candidate, a youth club development officer, while Direct Democracy Ireland announced that their leader, Ben Gilroy, would be contesting the election.http://directdemocracyireland.ie/press-release-ben-gilroy-to-stand-in-meath-bi-election/ Ben Gilroy to Stand in Meath By-Election Direct Democracy Ireland 5 March 2013 5 March 2013 25 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210925160305/https://directdemocracyireland.ie/wp-login.php?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2Fdirectdemocracyireland.ie%2Fpress-release-ben-gilroy-to-stand-in-meath-bi-election%2F live On 7 March, Fine Gael selected Helen McEntee, daughter of Shane McEntee, as its candidate.http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0307/375005-helen-mcentee-to-contest-vacant-dail-seat/ Helen McEntee to run for late father's seat in Meath East by-election RTÉ News 7 March 2013 7 March 2013 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053100/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0307/375005-helen-mcentee-to-contest-vacant-dail-seat/ live On 9 March, the Labour Party selected Meath County Councillor Eoin Holmes.http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0308/375763-eoin-holmes-to-stand-for-labour-in-meath-east/ Eoin Holmes to stand for Labour in Meath East RTÉ News 9 March 2013 10 March 2013 31 October 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131031023242/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0308/375763-eoin-holmes-to-stand-for-labour-in-meath-east/ live There were four independent candidates: Charlie Keddy, Mick Martin, Gerard O'Brien and Jim Tallon.http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0313/376480-meath-east-by-election/ 11 candidates to contest Meath East by-election RTÉ News 13 March 2013 13 March 2013 16 March 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130316172318/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0313/376480-meath-east-by-election/ live RTÉ debate An RTÉ Prime Time television debate held on 25 March featured candidates from the four main parties: Fine Gael, Labour Party, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. The other candidates were excluded, including the Green Party, DDI and Workers' Party candidates. Workers' Party candidate Seamus McDonagh said the Prime Time editor had no "consistent criteria" for this decision, and criticised the lack of an invitation to even sit in the audience despite having, he said, the support of several TDs. DDI's Ben Gilroy said RTÉ "just basically ignored us completely."http://www.thejournal.ie/prime-time-meath-east-debate-845139-Mar2013/ Prime Time criticised as candidates excluded from Meath East debate 26 March 2013 The Journal 27 March 2013 4 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150304144944/http://www.thejournal.ie/prime-time-meath-east-debate-845139-Mar2013/ live Result 2013 Meath East by-electionhttp://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2011B&cons=731 Meath East by-election ElectionsIreland.org 2 March 2013 17 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130617051350/http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2011B&cons=731 liveMeath East: 2013 by-election Ireland Election https://irelandelection.com/election.php?elecid=93&constitid=5&electype=2 23 April 2026 3 Helen McEntee Fine Gael 38.5 9,356 9,547 11,473 Thomas Byrne Fianna Fáil 32.9 8,002 8,106 9,582 Darren O'Rourke Sinn Féin 13.0 3,165 3,370   Ben Gilroy Direct Democracy Ireland 6.5 1,568 1,793   Eoin Holmes Labour Party (Ireland) 4.6 1,112 1,245   Seán Ó Buachalla Green Party (Ireland) 1.7 423     Seamus McDonagh Workers' Party (Ireland) 1.1 263     Independent politician (Ireland) Mick Martin 0.8 190     Independent politician (Ireland) Charlie Keddy 0.5 110     Gerard O'Brien Independent politician (Ireland) 0.3 73     Jim Tallon Independent politician (Ireland) 0.2 47     3 64,164 24,309 259 12,155 24,568 (38.3%) Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee finished first on the first count with 9,356 votes (38.5%), while Fianna Fáil's Thomas Byrne came second with 8,002 votes (32.9%). McEntee was elected on the third count with 11,473 votes.http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0328/378747-meath-east-by-election/ Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election after third count RTÉ News 28 March 2013 28 March 2013 12 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160312012103/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0328/378747-meath-east-by-election/ live The Labour Party candidate Eoin Holmes, got 4.6%, down from 21.0% that Labour received at the 2011 general election, and finished fifth behind new party Direct Democracy Ireland.http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pressure-on-gilmore-over-election-disaster-29162041.html Pressure on Gilmore over election disaster Irish Independent 29 March 2013 29 March 2013 5 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080504/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pressure-on-gilmore-over-election-disaster-29162041.html live It is the first time since 1975 that Fine Gael have won a by-election while in government. References External links Meath East by-election, 2013 at The Journal Category:2013 in Irish politics Category:2013 elections in the Republic of Ireland Category:31st Dáil Meath East 2013 Category:Elections in County Meath Category:RTÉ controversies Category:March 2013 in Europe