1994 European Parliament election in Ireland

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1994 European Parliament election in Ireland
Flag of Ireland.svg
  1989 9 June 1994 1999  

15 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout1,157,296 (44.0% Decrease2.svg 24.3 pp)
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Albert Reynolds (cropped).jpg
John Bruton, 1996 (cropped).jpg
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 election31.5%,  6 seats21.6%,  4 seats7.9%,  2 seats
Seats won
7 / 15
4 / 15
2 / 15
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 2Steady2.svg 0
Popular vote398,066 276,09590,046
Percentage35.0%24.3%7.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 3.5 ppIncrease2.svg 2.7 ppIncrease2.svg 4.2 pp

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Dick Spring, April 1995 02 (cropped).jpg
Mary Harney cropped.jpg
Proinsias De Rossa, 1996 (cropped).jpg
Leader Dick Spring Mary Harney Proinsias De Rossa
Party Labour Progressive Democrats Democratic Left
Alliance PES ELDR
Leader since1 November 198212 October 19931992
Last election9.5%,  1 seats12.0%,  1 seatsNew
Seats won
1 / 15
0 / 15
0 / 15
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Decrease2.svg 1New
Popular vote124,97273,69639,706
Percentage11.0 %6.5 %3.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.5 ppDecrease2.svg 5.5 ppNew

 Seventh partyEighth party
 
Gerry Adams, 1997.jpg
Workers'
Leader Gerry Adams Marian Donnelly
Party Sinn Féin Workers' Party
Alliance NI
Leader since13 November 198311 November 1988
Last election2.2%,  0 seats7.7%,  1 seats
Seats won
0 / 15
0 / 15
Seat changeSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1
Popular vote33,82322,100
Percentage3.0%1.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.8 ppDecrease2.svg 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.

Contents

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

Elections to the European Parliament in Ireland – 1994
PartyEuropean partyParty Leader1st Pref Vote%±%Seats±
Fianna Fáil EDA Albert Reynolds 398,06635.0+3.57Increase2.svg1
Fine Gael EPP John Bruton 276,09524.3+2.74Steady2.svg
Green Party Green Group none90,0467.9+4.22Increase2.svg2
Labour Party PES Dick Spring 124,97211.0+1.51Steady2.svg
Progressive Democrats ELDR Mary Harney 73,6966.5−5.50Decrease2.svg1
Democratic Left Proinsias De Rossa 39,7063.5+3.50New
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 33,8233.0+0.80Steady2.svg
Workers' Party Marian Donnelly 22,1001.9−5.80Decrease2.svg1
Independent 78,9866.9−1.71Steady2.svg
Total1,137,490100.015Steady2.svg

MEPs elected

ConstituencyNamePartyEP 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 Ireland-European-Parliament-Constituencies-1979-2004.svg
1979–2004 European Parliament Ireland constituencies
ConstituencyElectorateTurnoutSpoiltValid PollQuotaSeatsCandidates
Connacht–Ulster 496,352237,601 (47.8%)4,971 (2.1%)232,63058,15839
Dublin 755,486280,761 (37.2%)2,917 (1.1%)277,84455,569415
Leinster 624,561269,044 (43.1%)6,599 (2.4%)262,44552,490412
Munster 755,176369,890 (48.9%)5,319 (1.4%)364,57172,915416
Total2,631,5751,157,296 (43.9%)19,806 (1.7%)1,137,4901552

See also

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.