Sinn Féin transfers see Independent over the line in Seanad by-election

SINN FÉIN CANDIDATE Catherine Seeley’s second-preference votes pushed Independent Gerard Craughwell over the winning line in the Seanad by-election in a run-off against Fine Gael’s in/out candidate John McNulty.

The by-election was caused by Fine Gael’s Deirdre Clune winning a seat in the European Parliament.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny set out with the intention of holding the seat by shoehorning in failed local election candidate John McNulty.

The vote was restricted to the 223 members of the Seanad and the Dáil. The total number of valid votes cast (after eliminating abstentions and spoiled ballot papers) was 193.

The first count saw teacher and Craigavon Deputy Mayor Catherine Seeley (pictured) poll 22 votes (Sinn Féin has 17 Oireachtas members) with Independent Gerard Craughwell just ahead of Fine Gael’s John McNulty by 87 votes to 84.

When Catherine’s 22 votes were redistributed, the gap between the Independent and the Fine Gaeler widened, Craughwell getting 11 votes to McNulty’s one, ensuring the Fine Gael nominee’s defeat.

Fine Gael fiasco

The Seanad vote was dominated by the Fine Gael fiasco caused by Enda Kenny and Arts Minister Heather Humphreys parachuting John McNulty onto the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art just before the poll to boost his credentials for election to the Education and Cultural Panel.

The ensuing outcry of cronyism was brushed aside by Fine Gael and Labour leaders keen to back “the Government candidate” until the public pressure compelled McNulty to withdraw from the race and urge red-faced Government TDs and senators not to vote for him even though it was too late to take his name off the ballot paper.

Questions over Taoiseach’s judgment

Speaking at Leinster House after the result at Friday lunchtime, Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute to Catherine Seeley for allowing her name to go forward and for the support she received across parties and from Independents.

There are “two striking lessons” from this Seanad by-election, Mary Lou said: the cronyism of Fianna Fail is being carried on by Fine Gael and Labour and it appears that the Taoiseach is not in control of his party.

She said the Government promised Seanad reform but has failed to make good that promise.

“Instead, the Taoiseach fell back on the tried-and-tested approach of cronyism and stroke politics

“This election was an opportunity for the Government to widen the representation in a Seanad. To make it reflective of the nation instead of the being made up of mostly middle-class, middle-aged, men – the so called male, pale and stale.”

The Government abused politic appointments to build a CV “and to place their man in the Seanad”, Mary Lou said.

“There are unanswered questions as to how John McNulty was appointed onto the board of IMMA

“The Taoiseach has stood by Mr McNulty.

“Mr McNulty removed himself from the race.

“The Taoiseach directed Fine Gael to not vote for Mr McNulty yet a sizeable section rejected that advice.

“Labour ministers said they would rather vote for a candidate who did not want elected than an Independent or young Northern woman from Sinn Féin.

“And only yesterday we learnt a new deal was done within Fine Gael that Mr McNulty would immediately resign if elected.

“The Government handling of this has made a laughing stock of the political process.

“Labour and Fine Gael have broken their fundamental promise of political reform, treated the political process and the people with distain, and promoted a sense of entitlement and cronyism that has been a hallmark of Fianna Fáil.

“This debacle draws into serious question the judgments of An Taoiseach.”