2019 Cork North-Central by-election

A by-election was held in the Cork North-Central constituency of Dáil Éireann (the Irish lower house) on Friday, 29 November 2019, to fill the vacancy left by the election to the European Parliament of outgoing TD Billy Kelleher of Fianna Fáil.

2019 Cork North-Central by-election
29 November 2019
Turnout25,854 (30.2%)
 
Nominee Pádraig O'Sullivan Thomas Gould Colm Burke
Party Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Fine Gael
First preferences 7,148 5,041 5,385
Percentage 28.0% 19.7% 21.1%
Final count 11,633 8,044 -
 
Nominee John Maher Oliver Moran Fiona Ryan
Party Labour Green Solidarity
First preferences 2,482 1,883 1,121
Percentage 9.7% 7.4% 4.4%
Final count - - -
 
Nominee Finian Toomey Sinéad Halpin Martin Condon
Party Aontú Social Democrats Independent
First preferences 1,008 644 291
Percentage 3.9% 2.5% 1.1%
Final count - - -
Cork North-Central shown within Ireland
TD before election

Billy Kelleher
Fianna Fáil

 TD

Pádraig O'Sullivan
Fianna Fáil

The election was won by Pádraig O'Sullivan, a Fianna Fáil member of Cork County Council. Sheila O'Callaghan was co-opted to O'Sullivan's seat on Cork County Council following his election to the Dáil.

Three other by-elections were held on the same day, in Dublin Fingal, Dublin Mid-West, and Wexford.[1] The Electoral (Amendment) Act 204 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[2] The by-election writ was moved in the Dáil on 7 November 2019.[3][4]

At the 2016 general election, the electorate of Cork North-Central was 81,609, and the constituency elected one Fianna Fáil TD, one AAA–PBP TD, one Sinn Féin TD, and one Fine Gael TD.[5] The 2019 electorate was 85,524 (a 4.8% increase).

Among the by-election candidates were Senator and former MEP Colm Burke; four Cork City Councillors (Thomas Gould, John Maher, Oliver Moran and Fiona Ryan); Cork County Councillor Pádraig O'Sullivan; and three unsuccessful candidates at the May 2019 city council election (Sinéad Halpin. Thomas Kiely, and Finian Toomey). This was the first occasion Aontú (also contested Wexford) and the Social Democrats (also contested Dublin Fingal and Dublin Mid-West) contested by-elections.

In mid-November it was reported that Fine Gael's Dara Murphy would be resigning his seat in the same constituency in December, to become deputy chef de cabinet of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. The Irish Times reported regret within Fine Gael that Murphy had not resigned sooner, which would have allowed one single transferable vote by-election to fill both vacancies, increasing the likelihood that Fine Gael would have retained a seat.[6]

Result
2019 Cork North-Central by-election[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678910
Fianna Fáil Pádraig O'Sullivan 28.0 7,148 7,154 7,177 7,202 7,250 7,451 7,544 7,878 8,657 11,633
Fine Gael Colm Burke 21.1 5,385 5,386 5,398 5,431 5,469 5,593 5,684 6,118 6,972  
Sinn Féin Thomas Gould 19.7 5,041 5,042 5,077 5,275 5,368 5,479 5,935 6,184 7,130 8,044
Labour John Maher 9.7 2,482 2,485 2,501 2,565 2,705 2,750 2,947 3,866    
Green Oliver Moran 7.4 1,883 1,884 1,898 1,932 2,095 2,195 2,537      
Solidarity Fiona Ryan 4.4 1,121 1,125 1,155 1,260 1,436 1,534        
Aontú Finian Toomey 3.9 1,008 1,015 1,042 1,070 1,098          
Social Democrats Sinéad Halpin 2.5 644 644 652 727            
Independent Martin Condon 1.1 291 294 347              
Workers' Party James Coughlan 1.1 281 285 290              
Independent Thomas Kiely 0.9 234 248                
Independent Charlie Keddy 0.2 49                  
Electorate: 85,524   Valid: 25,567   Spoilt: 287 (1.1%)   Quota: 12,784   Turnout: 25,854 (30.2%)

    The number of votes to qualify for reimbursement of election expenses was 3,179 (one-quarter of the quota), which was reached by O'Sullivan, Burke, Gould, and Maher.[7]

    See also

    References
    1. "Four by-elections likely to take place in November". RTÉ News. 17 September 2019.
    2. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
    3. "Writs moved for four Dáil by-elections". RTÉ News. 7 November 2019.
    4. "Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 7 November 2019: Cork North-Central By-election: Issue of Writ". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    5. "Cork North-Central – General Election: 26 February 2016". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
    6. McGee, Harry. "Dara Murphy criticised within Fine Gael for delay in resigning". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
    7. "Dáil bye-election — 29 November 2019; Constituency of Cork North-Central" (PDF). Cork city returning officer. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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