Seanad Election Finishes with 20 Women Among 49 Winners
-
Loading... - Belle Rolland
- 04 Feb 2025
- 133 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
The recent Seanad election has resulted in a significant representation of women, with 20 out of 49 elected senators being female, accounting for 40% of the total. This figure is notably higher than the 25% representation of women in the Dáil. Among the elected senators, 18 women were chosen from the five vocational panels, while two were elected from the university constituencies.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to announce the nomination of the remaining 11 senators to complete the Seanad's lineup of 60 members. This includes six nominations from Fianna Fáil and five from Fine Gael. The government faces pressure to enhance female representation following criticism regarding the lack of women in senior Cabinet positions.
Former Fianna Fáil Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, who recently lost her Dáil seat in Galway East and was unsuccessful in her Seanad bid, is anticipated to be among those nominated. Other potential nominees include her party colleague Joe Flaherty, who also lost his seat, and Fine Gael parliamentary chairman Alan Farrell.
Speculation surrounds the nomination of Ian Marshall, a unionist senator and president of the Ulster Farmers Union, as well as Cathal Berry, a former Independent TD with a background in defense.
The final count for the Administrative panel saw the election of several senators, including Fianna Fáil members Mark Daly, Fiona O’Loughlin, and Diarmuid Wilson, along with Fine Gael senators Garret Ahearn and Martin Conway. Independent Eileen Flynn, the first woman Traveller in the Oireachtas, was also elected. The only new senator on this panel is Nicole Ryan from Sinn Féin.
The final results leave Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with 13 senators each, marking a seat gain for Fine Gael, while Fianna Fáil has lost three seats. Sinn Féin has gained a seat, bringing their total to six senators, which includes notable figures like Conor Murphy and Chris Andrews.
Labour faced a disappointing outcome, losing two seats but gaining two new senators: Laura Harmon and Nessa Cosgrove. Independents have increased their representation to five, while the Social Democrats and Aontú have secured their first-ever senators. The Green Party successfully retained its seat with the election of former Minister of State Malcolm Noonan.
Conor Murphy, a former Sinn Féin MP and IRA member from South Armagh, expressed his views on his election, stating, “It is an opportunity to play a part in all-Ireland politics, particularly in relation to an all-island economy.” He dismissed the notion that moving to the Seanad was a step down, emphasizing that his political motivation remains focused on achieving a united Ireland.
The Seanad election results reflect a positive trend towards increased female representation and a diverse political landscape. As the Taoiseach prepares to finalize the remaining nominations, the focus on enhancing women's roles in politics remains a critical issue in the ongoing discourse surrounding representation in Ireland's political institutions.
