1994 European Parliament election in Ireland

1994 European Parliament election in Ireland

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15 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout	1,157,296 (44.0% 24.3 pp)
First party Second party Third party   Green Leader Albert Reynolds John Bruton None Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Green Alliance EDA EPP Green Group Leader since 6 February 1992 20 November 1990 6 November 2001 Last election 31.5%,  6 seats 21.6%,  4 seats 7.9%,  2 seats Seats won 7 / 15 4 / 15 2 / 15 Seat change 1 2 0 Popular vote 398,066 276,095 90,046 Percentage 35.0% 24.3% 7.9% Swing 3.5 pp 2.7 pp 4.2 pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Dick Spring Mary Harney Proinsias De Rossa Party Labour Progressive Democrats Democratic Left Alliance PES ELDR Leader since 1 November 1982 12 October 1993 1992 Last election 9.5%,  1 seats 12.0%,  1 seats New Seats won 1 / 15 0 / 15 0 / 15 Seat change 0 1 New Popular vote 124,972 73,696 39,706 Percentage 11.0 % 6.5 % 3.5% Swing 1.5 pp 5.5 pp New   Seventh party Eighth party   Workers' Leader Gerry Adams Marian Donnelly Party Sinn Féin Workers' Party Alliance NI Leader since 13 November 1983 11 November 1988 Last election 2.2%,  0 seats 7.7%,  1 seats Seats won 0 / 15 0 / 15 Seat change 1 Popular vote 33,823 22,100 Percentage 3.0% 1.9% Swing 0.8 pp 5.8 pp

The 1994 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1994 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote. Local elections were held on the same day for borough councils, urban district councils and town commissioners.

Campaign

In 1992, a general election in Ireland led to the Labour Party's best results to date, paving the way for Dick Spring to lead his party into coalition with Fianna Fáil. The 1994 local and European elections were seen in some quarters as a mid-term report on that coalition's performance. The strong result by the Green Party in particular was interpreted as a warning that left-leaning middle class voters were moving away from Labour. ^[1]

The election was notable for how some parties ran "parachute candidates" (like Orla Guerin for Labour) who did not resonate with voters as well as incumbent, grassroots campaigners. ^[2]

The popularity of President Mary Robinson led to parties presenting more female candidates than usual, four of whom became MEPs on this occasion. ^[3]

Results

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Fianna Fáil	398,066	35.00	+3.5	7	+1
	Fine Gael	276,095	24.27	+2.7	4	0
	Labour Party	124,972	10.99	+1.5	1	0
	Green Party	90,046	7.92	+4.2	2	+2
	Progressive Democrats	73,696	6.48	−5.5	0	−1
	Democratic Left	39,706	3.49	New	0	New
	Sinn Féin	33,823	2.97	+0.8	0	0
	Workers' Party	22,100	1.94	−5.8	0	−1
	Independent	78,986	6.94	−1.7	1	0
Total		1,137,490	100.00	–	15	–
Valid votes		1,137,490	98.29
Invalid/blank votes		19,806	1.71
Total votes		1,157,296	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,631,575	43.98

MEPs elected

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament for Ireland, 1994–1999

Constituency	Name	Party		EP group
Connacht–Ulster	Pat "the Cope" Gallagher		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Mark Killilea		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Joe McCartin		Fine Gael		EPP
Dublin	Patricia McKenna		Green		G
	Mary Banotti		Fine Gael		EPP
	Niall Andrews		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Bernie Malone		Labour		PES
Leinster	Liam Hyland		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Alan Gillis		Fine Gael		EPP
	Jim Fitzsimons		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Nuala Ahern		Green		G
Munster	Brian Crowley		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	Gerry Collins		Fianna Fáil		EDA
	John Cushnahan		Fine Gael		EPP
	Pat Cox		Independent		ELDR

Voting details

1979–2004 European Parliament Ireland constituencies

Constituency	Electorate	Turnout	Spoilt	Valid Poll	Quota	Seats	Candidates
Connacht–Ulster	496,352	237,601 (47.8%)	4,971 (2.1%)	232,630	58,158	3	9
Dublin	755,486	280,761 (37.2%)	2,917 (1.1%)	277,844	55,569	4	15
Leinster	624,561	269,044 (43.1%)	6,599 (2.4%)	262,445	52,490	4	12
Munster	755,176	369,890 (48.9%)	5,319 (1.4%)	364,571	72,915	4	16
Total	2,631,575	1,157,296 (43.9%)	19,806 (1.7%)	1,137,490	—	15	52

See also

• List of members of the European Parliament for Ireland, 1994–99 – List ordered by constituency

References

1. Morahan, Jim (13 June 1994). "Green Party's McKenna Is The Toast of Dublin". Cork Examiner. p. 11.
2. McNally, Frank. "Searching for the dream candidate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
3. Downing, John (21 July 1994). "Women Fine-Tune A Powerbase in European Politics". Evening Herald. p. 89.

External links

• ElectionsIreland.org – 1994 European Parliament (Ireland) election results