1997 Irish general election

The 1997 Irish general election to the 28th Dáil was held on Friday, 6 June, following the dissolution of the 27th Dáil on 15 May by President Mary Robinson, on the request of Taoiseach John Bruton. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, under a revision in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995.

1997 Irish general election

← 1992 6 June 1997 2002 →
← outgoing members elected members →
166 seats in Dáil Éireann 84 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	65.9% 2.6pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bertie Ahern John Bruton Dick Spring Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Leader since 19 December 1994 20 November 1990 November 1982 Leader's seat Dublin Central Meath Kerry North Last election 68 seats, 39.1% 45 seats, 24.5% 33 seats, 19.9% Seats before 67 47 32 Seats won 77 54 17 Seat change 9 9 16 Popular vote 703,700 499,900 186,000 Percentage 39.3% 27.9% 10.4% Swing 0.2% 3.4% 8.9%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Green Leader Mary Harney Proinsias De Rossa — Party Progressive Democrats Democratic Left Green Leader since 12 October 1993 1992 — Leader's seat Dublin South-West Dublin North-West — Last election 10 seats, 4.7% 4 seats, 2.8% 1 seat, 1.4% Seats before 8 6 1 Seats won 4 4 2 Seat change 6 1 Popular vote 83,800 44,900 49,300 Percentage 4.7% 2.5% 2.8% Swing 0.0% 0.3% 1.4%   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Gerry Adams Joe Higgins Party Sinn Féin Socialist Party Leader since 13 November 1983 Leader's seat Did not stand'^[a] Dublin West Last election 0 New Seats before 0 0 Seats won 1 1 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 45,614 12,445 Percentage 2.5% 0.7% Swing 0.9% 0.7%
Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency. Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency.
Taoiseach before election John Bruton Fine Gael Taoiseach after election Bertie Ahern Fianna Fáil

The two largest parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, increased both their vote totals and representation, while both the junior parties in the Dáil, the Labour Party and the Progressive Democrats, had disastrous campaigns that saw their representation in the Dáil slashed by 50% or greater. However, some of the other minor parties in the Dáil saw improvements: for the first time in 75 years a Sinn Féin TD took their seat in the Dáil after Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was elected, while the Green party added a second TD and the Socialist Party gained their first ever national representative in Joe Higgins.

Following the election, the 28th Dáil met at Leinster House on 26 June to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Bertie Ahern was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 25th Government of Ireland, a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.

The election has been described by Irish Independent journalist Shane Coleman as a prelude to the "golden years" of the Celtic Tiger, and thus one of the most significant general elections in Irish history.^[1]

Background

The maximum amount of time between a general election in Ireland is five years, and thus the ruling "Rainbow Coalition" of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left knew an election would have to be called in mid to late 1997. Fine Gael had wanted to wait until the autumn to call the election, but Labour were keen to fight their campaign in the summer. Anticipating the election, on 14 April 1997 during their annual party conference, Labour leader Dick Spring declared "I will not, in the aftermath of the next general election, come before you and recommend any form of coalition with either of the parties that make up the centre-right alternative, the Progressive Democrats or Fianna Fail", which ruled out the possibility of Labour being able to play kingmaker between possible coalition blocs.^[2]

Both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats were delighted by the decision to hold the election in the summer instead of the autumn; Fianna Fáil in particular feared the release in October or November of the report by the McCracken Tribunal, which was investing allegations that Ben Dunne Jnr. had bribed members of Fianna Fáil and that they had aided him in tax evasion.^[1]

The 1997 general election saw the public offered a choice of two possible coalitions. The existing government was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left – called the Rainbow Coalition, while the opposition "alternative coalition" consisted of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.

Campaigns

Rainbow coalition (Fine Gael, Labour, Democratic Left)

The outgoing Rainbow parties campaigned to re-elect the coalition and thus emphasized the working relationship that they had developed, running with the slogan 'Partnership That Works'.^[3] They claimed credit for a booming economy, improving social services and reforms such as the introduction of divorce. Despite this united front, each party fought its own campaign. Labour emphasised the number of campaign pledges it had managed to implement not only as part of the Rainbow government but also during its coalition with Fianna Fail.

Fianna Fáil campaign

Fianna Fáil under Bertie Ahern had been restructuring itself after its turbulent period under Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds. The party's central office gained control of candidate selection and modernised its campaigning strategy, especially concerning vote management and controlling transfers under Ireland's PR electoral system. In addition, the bitter internal feuding that had dogged the party for decades was ended by Ahern's more unifying style of leadership. This leadership also allowed Fianna Fáil to run a very energetic campaign that emphasised Ahern's relative youth and enthusiasm, which distanced the party from scandals that had beset the party.^[2][1][4]

Progressive Democrats' campaign

Despite entering the election with polls suggesting they would overtake Labour as the third biggest party, and with Mary Harney as the most popular party leader, the Progressive Democrats struggled. Initially, it ran a presidential-style campaign that emphasized Harney. However, entering a pact with a resurgent Fianna Fáil meant it struggled to assert itself. In response, the PDs hastily published a manifesto — a move that backfired as it controversially called for single parent benefits to be cut in order to encourage single mothers to live with their parents.^[2] This drew fire from Pronsias De Rossa, who claimed Harney did "not have a bull's notion about social welfare".^[5] The Progressive Democrat's manifesto also called for the laying off of 25,000 public sector workers over five years, a proposal that was heavily criticised by the left-wing parties.^[2] In response, Fianna Fáil's leadership demanded a sit-down meeting with the Progressive Democrat leadership, and after the two parties publicly announced together that no layoffs would be made in the public sector without the consent of Irish trade unions. Harney also claimed her comments about unwed mothers had been misrepresented by the media.^[2]

Party slogans/Manifestos

Party				Slogan/Manifesto name	Refs
	Fine Gael
	Fianna Fáil			People before Politics	^[6]^[7]
	Labour Party			Labour makes the vital difference	^[8]
	Progressive Democrats			Real answers, not idle promises	^[9]
	Democratic Left			Make the future work	^[10]
	Green Party			For Quality of Life	^[11]
	Sinn Féin			Building a dynamic for change A New Opportunity for Peace	^[12]
	Socialist Party

Campaign topics

Sinn Féin and Northern Ireland

1997 was a pivotal year politically across the island of Ireland as the Troubles drew to an end and progress towards the forthcoming Good Friday Agreement was being made. Inevitably, the issue of Sinn Féin's participation in the election and each party's policy on Northern Ireland came up repeatedly during the campaign. Previous to the May 1997 United Kingdom general election, leader of Fine Gael John Bruton declared that if the IRA had not declared a ceasefire, then a vote for Sinn Féin would be a vote for violence. However, on 26 May, Labour leader and coalition partner Dick Spring stated that a vote for Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland would be a vote for peace. The opposition in the Dáil responded by declaring that the government was sending out mixed messaging about Sinn Féin and Northern Ireland.^[2]

In late May/early June, Bernie Ahern began attacking Bruton on the topic of Northern Ireland, criticising Bruton for not being the leading voice of "Nationalist Ireland" and promising that he would take this mantle if elected Taoiseach. Simultaneously, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams involved himself in the election by criticising Bruton's handling of the peace process. On 31 May, an active Provisional IRA landmine was discovered in Belfast, prompting Bruton to state he would "think very hard" before allowing any further contact between members of the government and Sinn Féin. Afterwards, the leader of the Democratic Left, Proinsias De Rossa, asked Ahern to clarify his "electoral support for Sinn Féin". Ahern denied he had ever lent support to Sinn Féin and went further by stating categorially he would rule Sinn Féin out of any possible coalition talks following the election. Ahern justified this by saying it would send the wrong message to Unionists in Northern Ireland to add Sinn Féin to a coalition.^[2]

Crime

The murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996 by drug lords in Dublin ensured that the subject of crime was a pressing one during the election. Although Fine Gael had traditionally been the "party of law and order" in Ireland, Fianna Fáil were able to seize on the subject of crime and declared they would have a "zero tolerance" approach to crime. Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Crime, John O'Donoghue, was able to dictate the conversation and was also able, previous to the election, to convince the government to support his bill which gave greater powers to the Criminal Assets Bureau.^[1]

Opinion polls

Polling firm	Date	FF	FG	Lab	PDs	DL	GP	Ind/Oth
			7 June	44	27	8	4	3	3	11
	2 June	44	29	9	5	2	3	6
	28 May	42	26	11	7	2	4	8
	29 May	40	29	11	6	2	4	8
	26 May	41	26	10	5	2	4	12
	20 May	43	26	10	7	2	3	9
	5 May	43	26	12	8	2	3	6

Results

Party	Fianna Fáil	Fine Gael	Labour Party	Progressive Democrats	Green Party	Sinn Féin	Democratic Left	Socialist Party
Leader	Bertie Ahern	John Bruton	Dick Spring	Mary Harney	—	Gerry Adams	Proinsias De Rossa	Joe Higgins
Votes	39.3%, 703,682	27.9%, 499,936	10.4%, 186,044	4.7%, 83,765	2.8%, 49,323	2.5%, 45,614	2.5%, 44,901	0.7%, 12,445
Seats	77 (46.4%)	54 (32.5%)	17 (10.2%)	4 (2.4%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.4%)	1 (0.6%)

↓

77	4	6	54	17	4
Fianna Fáil	PD	Inds	Fine Gael	Labour	DL

Vote Share of different parties in the election.

  Fianna Fáil (39.3%)

  Fine Gael (27.9%)

  Labour Party (10.4%)

  Progressive Democrats (4.7%)

  Green Party (2.8%)

  Sinn Féin (2.5%)

  Democratic Left (2.5%)

  National Party (1.1%)

  Socialist Party (0.6%)

  Other (8.2%)

Election to the 28th Dáil – 6 June 1997^[13]^[14]^[15]
Party		Leader	Seats	±	% of seats	First pref. votes	% FPv	±%
	Fianna Fáil	Bertie Ahern	77	10	46.4	703,682	39.3	0.2
	Fine Gael	John Bruton	54	9	32.5	499,936	27.9	3.4
	Labour	Dick Spring	17	16	10.2	186,044	10.4	8.9
	Progressive Democrats	Mary Harney	4	6	2.4	83,765	4.7	±0.0
	Green	—	2	1	1.2	49,323	2.8	1.4
	Sinn Féin	Gerry Adams^[a]	1	1	0.6	45,614	2.5	0.9
	Democratic Left	Proinsias De Rossa	4	0	2.4	44,901	2.5	0.3
	National Party	Nora Bennis	0	New	0	19,077	1.1	New
	Socialist Party	Joe Higgins	1	New	0.6	12,445	0.7	New
	Christian Solidarity	Gerard Casey	0	New	0	8,357	0.5	New
	Workers' Party	Tom French	0	0	0	7,808	0.4	0.3
	Socialist Workers	N/A	0	New	0	2,028	0.1	New
	Natural Law Party	N/A	0	New	0	1,515	0.1	New
	SKIA		0	New	0	1,388	0.1	New
	Independent	N/A	6	2	3.6	123,102	7.9	1.1
Spoilt votes						17,947	—	—
Total			166	0	100	1,806,932	100	—
Electorate/Turnout						2,741,262	65.9%	—

The outgoing Ceann Comhairle retired at this election. Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (11,607 votes, 1 seat).

Voting summary

First preference vote Fianna Fáil   39.33% Fine Gael   27.95% Labour   10.40% Progressive Democrats   4.68% Green   2.76% Sinn Féin   2.55% Democratic Left   2.51% National   1.07% Socialist   0.70% Others   1.18% Independent   6.88%

Seats summary

Dáil seats Fianna Fáil   46.39% Fine Gael   32.53% Labour   10.24% Progressive Democrats   2.41% Democratic Left   2.41% Green   1.20% Sinn Féin   0.60% Socialist   0.60% Independent   3.61%

Although Fine Gael gained seats, it crossed the Dáil chamber to the Opposition benches. Fianna Fáil also increased its representation, but the Progressive Democrats had a disastrous election, maintaining its share of the vote, but winning only four seats compared to ten at the previous election, losing seats thought safe such as Cork North-Central and Dún Laoghaire.

The Green Party won a second seat, with John Gormley elected in Dublin South-East. He was elected by just over 30 votes after a recount lasting four days saw Progressive Democrat Michael McDowell defeated. The loss of McDowell was particularly stinging to the Progressive Democrats as McDowell was their "chief ideologue".^[2]

One of the main features of the election, however, was the collapse of the Labour Party vote. Not only did it lose seats it had picked up in the 1992 general election, when its vote was at an all-time high – such as in Clare and Laois–Offaly – but it also lost reasonably safe seats, such as in Dublin North, Dublin Central and Cork South-Central. Dick Spring would retire as leader of the Labour Party later that year, after further disappointment in the presidential election.

Democratic Left also suffered, losing its two gains made in by-elections during the 27th Dáil. Sinn Féin won its first Dáil seat since 1957, with the party winning a seat in the Cavan–Monaghan constituency with the election of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, and taking seats for the first time since 1922. It also narrowly missed a seat in Kerry North. The Socialist Party, a Trotskyist party which consisted of former members of the Labour Party expelled in 1989, won its first seat in the Dublin West constituency.

Another seat change of note was the first capture of Cavan–Monaghan by Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. When Ó Caoláin subsequently took his seat in the Dáil, it was the first time in 75 years a member of Sinn Féin had done so.^[16][17][18] Ó Caoláin's entry into the Dáil marked a major turning point in the history of Sinn Féin, who would continue to hold a presence in the Dáil to the present day.

Government formation

Following the election, none of the major parties had a clear majority. Negotiations resulted in a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition taking office. Four Independent Teachta Dála (TDs) also supported the government ensuring a working majority. Bertie Ahern became the Taoiseach while Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats became Tánaiste.

Dáil membership changes

The following changes took place as a result of the election:

• 17 outgoing TDs retired, including the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Treacy
• 149 TDs stood for re-election
  • 121 were re-elected
  • 28 failed to be re-elected
• 45 successor TDs were elected
  • 32 were elected for the first time
  • 13 had previously been TDs
• There were 6 successor female TDs, replacing 9 outgoing, decreasing the total number by 3 to 20
• There were changes in 34 of the 41 constituencies contested

Outgoing TDs are listed in the constituency they contested in the election. For some, such as Kildare North, this differs from the constituency they represented in the outgoing Dáil. Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only.

Constituency	Departing TD	Party		Change	Comment	Successor TD	Party
Carlow–Kilkenny	M. J. Nolan		Fianna Fáil	Lost seat		John McGuinness		Fianna Fáil
Cavan–Monaghan	Jimmy Leonard		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin		Sinn Féin
Clare	Moosajee Bhamjee		Labour Party	Retired	Daly – Former TD	Brendan Daly		Fianna Fáil
Cork East	John Mulvihill		Labour Party	Lost seat		David Stanton		Fine Gael
Cork North-Central	Kathleen Lynch		Democratic Left	Lost seat		Noel O'Flynn		Fianna Fáil
	Máirín Quill		Progressive Democrats	Lost seat		Billy Kelleher		Fianna Fáil
Cork North-West	Frank Crowley		Fine Gael	Lost seat		Michael Moynihan		Fianna Fáil
Cork South-Central	Peter Barry		Fine Gael	Retired		Deirdre Clune		Fine Gael
	Toddy O'Sullivan		Labour Party	Lost seat	Dennehy – Former TD	John Dennehy		Fianna Fáil
Cork South-West	No membership changes
Donegal North-East	Paddy Harte		Fine Gael	Lost seat		Harry Blaney		Ind. Fianna Fáil
Donegal South-West	Pat "the Cope" Gallagher		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Tom Gildea		Independent
Dublin Central	Joe Costello		Labour Party	Lost seat		Marian McGennis		Fianna Fáil
Dublin North	Seán Ryan		Labour Party	Lost seat	Wright – Former TD	G. V. Wright		Fianna Fáil
Dublin North-Central	No membership changes
Dublin North-East	Seán Kenny		Labour Party	Lost seat	Cosgrave – Former TD	Michael Joe Cosgrave		Fine Gael
	Liam Fitzgerald		Fianna Fáil	Lost seat		Martin Brady		Fianna Fáil
Dublin North-West	Mary Flaherty		Fine Gael	Lost seat		Pat Carey		Fianna Fáil
Dublin South	Eithne FitzGerald		Labour Party	Lost seat		Olivia Mitchell		Fine Gael
Dublin South-Central	Eric Byrne		Democratic Left	Lost seat		Seán Ardagh		Fianna Fáil
Dublin South-East	Michael McDowell		Progressive Democrats	Lost seat		John Gormley		Green Party
Dublin South-West	Éamonn Walsh		Labour Party	Lost seat		Conor Lenihan		Fianna Fáil
	Mervyn Taylor		Labour Party	Retired		Brian Hayes		Fine Gael
Dublin West	Joan Burton		Labour Party	Lost seat		Joe Higgins		Socialist Party
Dún Laoghaire	Niamh Bhreathnach		Labour Party	Lost seat		Mary Hanafin		Fianna Fáil
	Helen Keogh		Progressive Democrats	Lost seat	Barnes – Former TD	Monica Barnes		Fine Gael
Galway East				New seat		Ulick Burke		Fine Gael
Galway West	Máire Geoghegan-Quinn		Fianna Fáil	Retired	Fahey – Former TD	Frank Fahey		Fianna Fáil
Kerry North	No membership changes
Kerry South	John O'Leary		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Jackie Healy-Rae		Independent
Kildare North	No membership changes
Kildare South	New constituency, new seat					Jack Wall		Labour Party
Laois–Offaly	Liam Hyland		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Seán Fleming		Fianna Fáil
	Pat Gallagher		Labour Party	Lost seat	Enright – Former TD	Tom Enright		Fine Gael
	Ger Connolly		Fianna Fáil	Retired		John Moloney		Fianna Fáil
Limerick East	Peadar Clohessy		Progressive Democrats	Retired		Eddie Wade		Fianna Fáil
Limerick West	Gerry Collins		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Michael Collins		Fianna Fáil
	Michael J. Noonan		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Dan Neville		Fine Gael
Longford–Roscommon	John Connor		Fine Gael	Lost seat		Denis Naughten		Fine Gael
	Tom Foxe		Independent	Lost seat	Belton – Former TD	Louis Belton		Fine Gael
Louth	No membership changes
Mayo	P. J. Morley		Fianna Fáil	Lost seat		Beverley Flynn		Fianna Fáil
	Séamus Hughes		Fianna Fáil	Lost seat	Constituency reduced to 5 seats
Meath	Colm Hilliard		Fianna Fáil	Retired		Johnny Brady		Fianna Fáil
	Brian Fitzgerald		Labour Party	Lost seat	Farrelly – Former TD	John V. Farrelly		Fine Gael
Sligo–Leitrim	Ted Nealon		Fine Gael	Retired		John Perry		Fine Gael
	Declan Bree		Labour Party	Lost seat	Reynolds – Former TD	Gerry Reynolds		Fine Gael
Tipperary North	John Ryan		Labour Party	Retired	O'Kennedy – Former TD	Michael O'Kennedy		Fianna Fáil
Tipperary South	Seán Treacy		Labour Party	Retired	Constituency seats from 4 to 3
Waterford	No membership changes
Westmeath	No membership changes
Wexford	Avril Doyle		Fine Gael	Lost seat	D'Arcy – Former TD	Michael D'Arcy		Fine Gael
Wicklow	Godfrey Timmins		Fine Gael	Retired		Billy Timmins		Fine Gael
	Liam Kavanagh		Labour Party	Lost seat	Roche – Former TD	Dick Roche		Fianna Fáil

See also

• Members of the 21st Seanad

Notes

1. Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Féin, was an MP for Belfast West. After the election, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin became sole member of the Sinn Féin parliamentary party.

References

1. Coleman, Shane (3 June 2022). "Changes and a charm offensive: how Bertie Ahern propelled himself over the Rainbow in the 1997 election". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
2. Gary Murphy (19 October 2007). "The 1997 general election in the republic of Ireland". Irish Political Studies. 13 (1): 127–134. doi:10.1080/07907189808406588. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
3. ""Partnership That Works" -Rainbow Coalition Flyer 1997 election | Irish Election Literature". 23 September 2009. from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
4. "Bertie Episode 3 - United We Stand". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
5. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "The PDs: From Boom to Bust | Part 1 - Party On | RTÉ Documentary 2010". YouTube.
6. "Flyer for Pat Carey , Noel Ahern -Fianna Fail- 1997 GE Dublin North West". 5 January 2011.
7. "Noel Whelan , Eoin Ryan -Fianna Fail- 1997 GE Dublin South East". 26 February 2010.
8. Labour Party 1997
9. "Mary Heaslip -Progressive Democrats -1997 General Election -Wicklow". 10 May 2010.
10. "Democratic Left 1997 Manifesto- 'Make the Future Work'". 18 September 2009.
11. Green Party 2019
12. "Sinn Fein Leinster House Election Manifesto 1997".
13. Government of Ireland (1993). 28th Dáil general election: June, 1997: election results and transfer of votes (PDF). Stationery Office. Retrieved 15 August 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
14. "28th Dáil – General Election: 6 June 1997". ElectionsIreland.org. from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
15. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. pp. 1009–1017. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
16. "Irish election: Recalling when the Dáil was a Sinn Féin 'cold house'". BBC News. 16 February 2020. from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
17. White 2017, p. 292.
18. Feeney 2002, p. 10.

Further reading

• Feeney, Brian (2002). Sinn Féin : a hundred turbulent years. Dublin: O'Brien. ISBN 978-0862786953.
• Nealon, Ted (1997). Nealon's guide to the 28th Dáil & Seanad: election '97. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0717126749.
• White, Robert W. (2017). Out of the ashes : an oral history of provisional Irish Republican movement (Social movements vs terrorism). Merrion Press. ISBN 9781785370939.

External links

• RTÉ archives
• Fianna Fail Election Manifesto 1997 Irish general election