Irish general election, November 1982

Irish general election, November 1982

24 November 1982
165 of 166 seats in Dáil Éireann 83 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout	72.9%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Charles Haughey Garret FitzGerald Dick Spring Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Party Leader since 7 December 1979 1977 November 1982 Leader's seat Dublin North-Central Dublin South-East Kerry North Last election 81 seats, 47.3% 63 seats, 37.3% 15 seats, 9.1% Seats won 75 70 16 Seat change 6 7 1 Popular vote 763,313 662,284 158,115 Percentage 45.2% 39.2% 9.4% Swing 2.1% 1.9% 0.3%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Tomás Mac Giolla Jim Kemmy Party Workers' Party Democratic Socialist Party Leader since 1977 1982 Leader's seat Dublin West Limerick East Last election 3 seats, 2.2% New Seats won 2 0 Seat change 1 New Popular vote 54,888 7,012 Percentage 3.3% 0.4% Swing 1.0% New
Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election Charles Haughey Fianna Fáil Subsequent Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Fine Gael

The Irish general election of November 1982 was held on 24 November 1982, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 November. The newly elected 166 members of the 24th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 14 December when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.

The general election took place in 41 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.

Campaign

The second general election of 1982 took place just nine months after the first one in February of the same year. While it is not the shortest Dáil, it is unusual because never before had there been three general elections in eighteen months.

The general election was caused by the loss of support of the Independent TD Tony Gregory and the Workers' Party for the Fianna Fáil government. This was due to the government's insistence on introducing substantial budget cuts, which the left-wing Teachta Dála (TDs) could not support. While economic issues dominated the campaign, the parties were weary in having to fight yet another general election.

Result

• Fine Gael–Labour Party majority coalition government formed.

Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (7,997 votes, 1 seat).

After the votes were counted the result was conclusive. Fine Gael recorded its biggest election victory until 2011, coming within five seats of Fianna Fáil; at other times (such as 1977) Fianna Fáil had been twice as big as Fine Gael. The Labour Party had a new leader with Dick Spring. A programme for government was quickly drawn up and Garret FitzGerald of Fine Gael became Taoiseach for the second time. The poor showing for Fianna Fáil resulted in a leadership challenge to Charles Haughey by his opponents within the party. Haughey won the vote of confidence and remained as leader.

Voting summary

Seats summary

Dáil membership changes

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

• 5 outgoing TDs retired
• 1 vacant seat at election time
• 159 outgoing TDs stood for re-election (also John O'Connell, the outgoing Ceann Comhairle who was automatically returned)
  • 138 of those were re-elected
  • 21 failed to be re-elected
• 27 successor TDs were elected
  • 18 were elected for the first time
  • 9 had previously been TDs
• There were 6 successor female TDs, increasing the total by 6 to 14.
• There were changes in 22 of the 41 constituencies contested

Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only.

See also

• Members of the 24th Dáil
• Government of the 24th Dáil

References

External links

• November 1982 election: Party leaders' debate RTÉ archives