Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

From Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council last night voted in favour of a motion by Councillors Tom Brabazon and Críona Ní Dhálaigh that will oblige developers give new estates in the city names in the Irish language only. The names of the new estates in Dublin city will reflect local history and topography. Now [...]

There are various reasons why the “12 Days of Christmas” went down like a lead balloon.  Central Bank board member David Begg seems to have settled on blaming the media.  But among the explanations is also that the government and the unions were promising to deliver something that people thought had already been promised — [...]

If you have a few minutes, read the 2008 Annual Report of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.  The 1st paragraph – We will develop Dublin Docklands into a world-class city quarter, a paragon of sustainable inner city regeneration, one in which the whole community enjoys the highest standards of access to education, employment, housing and [...]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin is in charge of the Lisbon II campaign.  With summer schools apparently forming the main forum for policy debate with the Dail in recess, he was perhaps giving us a preview of what the Yes campaign will look like in this evening’s remarks to the MacGill event.  Writing as [...]

Joe Higgins is both a councillor and MEP in waiting. The dual mandate ban means that he has to pick one over the other – with the choice being made by Joe to head to Brussels and nominate a replacement in his council seat. Only Fine Gael are miffed that he doesn’t take up the [...]

In case you missed it earlier here’s the entrance of Maureen O’Sullivan TD and George Lee TD into the Dáil Chamber this afternoon.

The most compelling race in the country is over with the victory of Alan Kelly in the race for the final seat. Kelly took the seat in a final head to head with Sinnot by 10,000 votes after Toireasa Ferris was eliminated as ever you had it first on the liveblog. The MEPs so far [...]

As talked about here. Video of Maurice Ahern after losing seat.

Quota: 101, 658 1st Count: Byrne, 18 956 De Burca, 19 086 De Rossa, 83 471 HIggins, 50, 510 Mary Lou 47, 928 McKenna, 17 521 Mitchell 96, 715 Ryan 55, 346 Simons, 13, 514 Sweeney 3,583 2nd Count (elim of Simons and Sweeney):

From ALexia at the RDS Dublin tallies. Mitchell 100k, DeRossa 87k, Ryan 66,205, Higgins 53,036, Mary Lou 50,980, McKenna 22,380, de Burca 21,991 Seat totals at 9:00 – FF (180), FG (293), Lab (123), GP (3), SF (48) and OTH (118) Recount called by De Burca – we now are behind. Higgins seat to lose [...]

Over on the liveblog we have figures from TV3 on first count totals… Dublin European Count First Count approx figures from TV3 – Quota is 101,000 – Mitchell on 95,000, De Rossa on 85, 000, Ryan on 55,000 MaryLou McDonald on 48,000 Joe Higgins on 50,000, Byrne on 19,000. As I Have it right now [...]

The Fianna Fáil second tier are dripping into the count centre as we speak. Sean Haughey was first – arriving about an hour ago. Pat Carey popped in a half-hour later. Mary Hanafin is the latest, she sauntered in quietly under the radar and hugged Maurice Ahern while most cameras wern’t switched on – mine [...]

Lexia has some great photos of George Lee over on her Flickr account, head over to check them out.

A preliminary Euro tally with figures from DLR, Fingal and Dublin City (excl. South Dub Co.) Gay Mitchell 24.6% De Rossa 19.7% Ryan 14.2% Higgins 13.7% Mary Lou McDonald 10% De Burca 5.4% McKenna 4.1% Byrne 4% Simons 3.2% How do we see it working out?

Alexia via her Qik is over at the RDS while we sit in blogger HQ at the D4 Court. Here is her interview with Maureen O Sullivan, victorious candidate in the Dublin Central by-election.

At 10.07am Newstalk were calling it for George Lee in Dublin South, David McCullough on RTÉ was saying it would be very difficult to beat his former colleague at about 9.45 on RTÉ radio. At present it looks like the Boy George will take the seat on the first count, he’s at 52% with over [...]