National University of Ireland (constituency)

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National University of Ireland (NUI for short) is a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, through which graduates of the National University of Ireland have elected members of various legislative bodies including currently Seanad Éireann.

Contents

[edit] Summary

From To Chamber Members
1918 1922 House of Commons of the United Kingdom 1
1921 1922 House of Commons of Southern Ireland 4
1922 1923 Dáil Éireann 4
1923 1937 Dáil Éireann 3
1938 date Seanad Éireann 3

Note: The member elected in 1918 sat in the First Dáil and the members elected in 1921 served in the Second Dáil, rather than the bodies to which they were officially elected.

[edit] Representation

[edit] House of Commons of the United Kingdom

National University of Ireland
University constituency
Created: 1918
Abolished: 1922
Type: House of Commons

NUI was enfranchised as a new university constituency on 1918 and continued to be entitled to be represented by one Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons until the dissolution of Parliament on 26 October 1922, shortly before the Irish Free State became a dominion outside the United Kingdom on 6 December 1922. The 1918 UK general election took place on 14 December and the results were declared on 28 December, except for the university constituencies. NUI voted between 18 December-22 December and the result was declared on 23 December. Eoin MacNeill was elected (and also for Londonderry City) standing for Sinn Féin and therefore did not take his seat.

[edit] House of Commons of Southern Ireland

The Government of Ireland Act 1920 established a devolved home rule legislature, within the United Kingdom, for twenty-six Irish counties which were designated Southern Ireland.

NUI was given four seats in the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. The seats were filled by four Sinn Féin MPs, who were returned unopposed. They were amongst the 124 members (out of 128) who boycotted the abortive first meeting of the House.

The Parliament was dissolved as part of the arrangements under the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922.

[edit] Dáil Éireann

In the UK general election, 1918, Sinn Féin contested the election on the basis that they would not take seats in the United Kingdom Parliament but would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin.

The University was, in Irish republican theory, entitled to return one Teachta Dála (known in English as a Deputy) in 1918 to serve in the Irish Republic's First Dáil. This revolutionary body assembled on 21 January 1919.

In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a member of the First Dáil. In practice only Sinn Féin members participated, including the Deputy for the University.

The First Dáil, passed a motion at its last meeting on 10 May 1921, the first three parts of which make explicit the republican view.

  1. That the Parliamentary elections which are to take place during the present month be regarded as elections to Dáil Éireann.
  2. That all deputies duly returned at these elections be regarded as members of Dáil Éireann and allowed to take their seats on subscribing to the proposed Oath of Allegiance.
  3. That the present Dáil dissolve automatically as soon as the new body has been summoned by the President and called to order.

The Second Dáil first met on 16 August 1921, thereby dissolving the First Dáil.

Sinn Féin had decided to use the polls for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as an election for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil. No actual voting was necessary in Southern Ireland as all the seats were filled by unopposed returns. Except for Dublin University all constituencies outside Northern Ireland elected Sinn Féin TDs.

The University elected four Sinn Féin members unopposed, who participated in the Dáil.

The Third Dáil elected in 1922 was, in United Kingdom law, initially the constituent assembly for the Irish Free State and then the lower house. From this time the Dáil represented only twenty-six Irish counties and not the six counties of Northern Ireland. Non-Sinn Féin Deputies began to stand for and participate in the Dáil.

In the Electoral Act 1923 (No. 12/1923), the Irish Free State defined its own Dáil constituencies. National University of Ireland was reduced to three seats.

The Constitution (Amendment No. 23) Act 1936 (No. 17/1936) repealed the Irish Free State constitutional provision for University representation in Dáil Éireann, with effect from the next dissolution of the Oireachtas which took place on 14 June 1937.

[edit] Seanad Éireann

When Ireland adopted a new constitution, in 1937, this provided for the universities to be represented in a re-established Seanad Éireann (the Free State Seanad having been abolished in 1936).

The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 (No. 30/1937) gave effect to the new constitutional provision. The election to the Seanad took place in 1938. The 2nd Seanad first met on 27 April 1938.

NUI sends three members to the Seanad.

Proposals to reform the Seanad may lead to the end of university representation or to its modification (in accordance with a 1979 amendment to the Constutution) to permit the graduates of tertiary educational establishments other than the University of Dublin and the National University of Ireland to participate in university Seanad elections. No decision has yet been made (as at 2006).

As an example of the abolitionist view see the submission of the Green Party (Ireland) on Seanad reform, in 2004.

[1]

[edit] Boundaries

The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal university system of constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908.

As part of the redistribution of Parliamentary seats in 1918 NUI was enfranchised as a new non-territorial Parliamentary constituency.

[edit] Electorate

In 1918 the electorate included all registered male graduates over 21 (or over 19 if in armed services) and female graduates over 30. There were 3,819 voters registered for the 1918 general election. Most, if not all, of those electors would have been plural voters also entitled to vote in a territorial constituency.

In the Electoral Act 1923 (No. 12/1923), the Irish Free State abolished plural voting for University constituencies and enfranchised women on the same terms as men. Qualified voters could then decide whether to register for a University or a territorial constituency but not for both.

The qualifications for an elector to be registered as a University voter were set out in Section 1(2)(c) of the 1923 Act. They were to be registered at "the University constituency comprising a university in which he or she has received a degree other than an honorary degree or, in the case of the University of Dublin, has received such degree as aforesaid, or obtained a foundation scholarship, or, if a woman, obtained a non-foundation scholarship".

[edit] Politics of the constituency

Sinn Féin defeated the Irish Parliamentary Party by a two to one margin in 1918. They lost one of their four seats in the 1922 elections. Until around the 1950s elections were largely partisan, but since then independents have tended to predominate.

[edit] Electoral System

In 1918 the National University of Ireland was a single member, non-territorial University constituency which was (in theory) represented as a Parliament of the United Kingdom constituency 1918-1922. In 1918 the constituency used the first past the post system.

From 1921 parliamentary representatives of the University were elected using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.

[edit] Deputies 1918-1937 and Senators from 1938

Key to parties: CE Clann Éireann, CG Cumann na nGaedhael, FF Fianna Fáil, FG Fine Gael, Ind Independent, Lab Irish Labour Party, N Nationalist (Irish Parliamentary Party), Rep Republican, SF Sinn Féin, SFA Sinn Féin (anti-Treaty faction), SFP Sinn Féin (pro-Treaty faction).

From To Name (Party) Born Died
1918 1923 Professor Eoin MacNeill (SF) 15 May 1867 15 October 1945
1921 1922 Dr Ada English (SF) 1 January 1944
1921 1933 Professor Michael Hayes (SF/CG) 1 December 1889 11 July 1976
1921 1923 Prof. William F.P. Stockley (SF) 22 July 1943
1922 1927 Professor William Magennis (Ind) 18 May 1867 30 March 1946
1923 1937 Patrick McGilligan (Ind) 12 April 1889 15 November 1979
1927 1927 Arthur Edward Clery (Rep)
1927 1932 Professor Michael Tierney (CG) 30 September 1894 10 May 1975
1932 1936 Conor Alexander Maguire (FF) 26 September 1971
1933 1937 Mrs Helena Concannon (FF) 1878 27 February 1952
1938 1944 Professor Michael Tierney (FG) 30 September 1894 10 May 1975
1938 1952 Mrs Helena Concannon (FF) 1878 27 February 1952
1938 1960 Dr Henry Leo Barniville (Ind) 1887 23 September 1960
1944 1948 Michael J. Ryan (Ind) 1887 24 October 1952
1948 1965 George Augustine Thomas O'Brien (Ind) 1892 31 December 1973
1953 1954 John F. Cunningham (Ind)
1954 1957 Roger Joseph McHugh (Ind)
1957 1977 Patrick Michael Quinlan (Ind) 8 November 2001
1961 1969 Dónall Ó Conalláin (Ind) 1907 7 December 1987
1965 1973 Bryan G. Alton (Ind) 5 June 1919 18 January 1991
1969 1977 John S. Horgan (Lab) 26 October 1940
1973 1981 (Thomas) Augustine Martin (Ind) 16 October 1995
1977 1982 Mrs Gemma Hussey (Ind) 11 November 1938
1977 1982 John A. Murphy (Ind) 17 January 1927
1981 1982 Liam B. Ryan (Ind)
1982 1987 James C.I. Dooge (FG) 30 July 1922
1982 1992 Brendan Ryan (Ind) 1 August 1946
1983 1987 Michael D. Higgins (Lab) 18 April 1941
1987 1992 John A. Murphy (Ind) 17 January 1927
1987 date Joseph John O'Toole (Ind) 20 July 1947
1993 1997 Joe Lee (Ind)
1993 date Feargal Quinn (Ind) 27 November 1936
1997 date Brendan Ryan (Ind) 1 August 1946

[edit] Notes

  • (1) MacNeill was also TD for Londonderry City 1918-1921, Londonderry (Derry in the Oireachtas members database) 1921-1922 and Clare 1923-1927. He resigned this seart to sit for Clare. He was SFP 1922-1923 and CG 1923-1927. He served as Ceann Comhairle (equivalent to speaker in some other legislatures) 1921-1922.
  • (2) Hayes was also elected TD for Dublin South 1923, but chose to sit for NUI. He was SFP 1922-1923 and CG 1923-1933. He served as Ceann Comhairle 1923-1932.
  • (3) Stockley was SFA 1922-1923. He did not take his seat in the Third Dáil 1922-1923.
  • (4) Magennis was CE 1926-1927.
  • (5) McGilligan was CG 1924-1933 and FG 1933-1937.
  • (6) Clery did not take his seat in the 5th Dáil 1927.
  • (7) Concannon was Ind 1951-1952.
  • (8) Hussey was FG 1981-1982.
  • (9) Ryan was Lab from 14 January 1999.

[edit] Elections

[edit] UK House of Commons and Dáil Éireann

The United Kingdom general election, 1918 took place on 14 December and the results were declared on 28 December, except for the university constituencies. NUI voted between 18 December-22 December and the result was declared on 23 December.

General Election 1918: National University of Ireland (1 seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Professor Eoin MacNeill 1,644 66.91 N/A
Irish Parliamentary Professor Arthur William Conway 813 33.09 N/A
Majority 831 33.82 N/A
Turnout 3,819 64.34 N/A

[edit] House of Commons of Southern Ireland and Dáil Éireann

24 May 1921 General Election: National University of Ireland (4 seats)
Candidate Party 1st Pref % Seat Count
Ada English Sinn Féin Unopposed N/A 1 1
Michael Hayes Sinn Féin Unopposed N/A 2 1
Eoin MacNeill Sinn Féin Unopposed N/A 3 1
William Stockley Sinn Féin Unopposed N/A 4 1

[edit] Dáil Éireann

16 June 1922 General Election: National University of Ireland (4 seats)
Candidate Party 1st Pref % Seat Count
Michael Hayes Sinn Féin Elected  ? 1  ?
Eoin MacNeill Sinn Féin Elected  ? 2  ?
William Magennis Independent (politician) Elected  ? 3  ?
William Stockley Sinn Féin Elected  ? 4  ?
Ada English Sinn Féin  ?  ?
Arthur Conway Independent (politician)  ?  ?
  • 1923 (27 August) general election (3 seats)
  • Professor Eoin MacNeill (CG) 418 (elected)
  • Professor Michael Hayes (CG) 343 (elected)
  • Professor William Magennis (CG) 304 (elected)
  • Professor William F.P. Stockley (Rep) ?
  • Professor Hugh Ryan (Rep) ?
  • Miss Agnes Farrelly (Ind) ?
  • MacNeill chooses to sit for Clare
  • 1923 (2 November) by-election (1 seat)
  • 1,567 electors; 1,110 voted; turnout 70.84%; quota 556
  • Patrick McGilligan (Ind) 849 (76.49%) (elected)
  • Professor William F.P. Stockley (Rep) 261 (23.51%)
  • 1927 (9 June) general election (3 seats)
  • Arthur Edward Clery (Rep) ? (elected)
  • Professor Michael Hayes (CG): Unopposed as Ceann Comhairle
  • Patrick McGilligan (CG) ? (elected)
  • Professor William Magennis (CE) ?
  • Miss Agnes Farrelly (Ind) ?
  • 1927 (15 September) general election (3 seats)
  • Professor Michael Hayes (CG): Unopposed as Ceann Comhairle
  • Patrick McGilligan (CG) ? (elected)
  • Professor Michael Tierney (CG) ? (elected)
  •  ? (FF) ?
  • 1932 (16 February) general election (3 seats)
  • Only count 3,143 voted; quota (2 elected seats) 1,048
  • Professor Michael Hayes (CG): Unopposed as Ceann Comhairle
  • Conor Alexander Maguire (FF) 1,396 (44.42%) (elected)
  • Patrick McGilligan (CG) 1,321 (42.03%) (elected)
  • Professor Michael Tierney (CG) 426 (13.55%)
  • 1933 (24 January) general election (3 seats)
  • First count 3,770 voted; quota 943
  • Conor Alexander Maguire (FF) 1,306 (34.64%) (elected)
  • Patrick McGilligan (CG) 1,028 (27.27%) (elected)
  • Mrs Helena Concannon (FF) 773 (20.50%) (elected - 2nd count)
  • Professor Michael Hayes (CG) 663 (17.59%)
  • 1936 (November)
  • Seat vacant on appointment of Maguire as a Justice of the Irish High Court

[edit] Seanad Éireann

  • Electorate 101,952; Valid votes 32,249; Turnout 31.63%; Quota 8,063
17 July 2002 Seanad General Election: National University of Ireland (3 seats)
Candidate Party 1st Pref % Seat Count
Feargal Quinn Independent (politician) 5,640 17.49 1 12
Joe O'Toole Independent (politician) 5,463 16.94 2 13
Brendan Ryan Irish Labour 4,264 13.22 3 13
Bernardine O'Sullivan Independent (politician) 4,054 12.57
Valerie Bresnihan Independent (politician) 2,856 8.86
Brendan Price Independent (politician) 2,035 6.31
Linda O'Shea Farren Independent (politician) 1,533 4.75
Pierce Purcell Independent (politician) 1,295 4.02
Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh Independent (politician) 1,273 3.95
Jim O'Callaghan Independent (politician) 1,239 3.84
Michael Griffin Independent (politician) 961 2.98
Matthew Harmey Independent (politician) 590 1.83
Noel Murphy Independent (politician) 356 1.10
Michael Cosgrave Independent (politician) 273 0.85
Colm O'Higgins Independent (politician) 226 0.70
Liam Ó Gógáin Independent (politician) 191 0.59

[edit] References

  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
  • The Times of London, various editions

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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