In the recent local elections, independent politicians were projected to garner over one-fourth of initial preference votes. This trend was also seen among the prominent independent candidates vying for spots in the European Parliament.
By Sunday night, more than half the available seats, 142 in total, had been won by its independent candidates around the nation. Cumulatively, they managed to secure 28 per cent of first-preference support.
If we compare this with the 2019 local elections, 198 independent individuals and minor party candidates were elected, accounting for 22.4 per cent of all seats. This year, it’s anticipated the number of councillors might significantly exceed that.
Additionally, certain independent politicians are eyeing the role of MEPs. This includes Luke “Ming” Flanagan, the incumbent from Midlands North West, and Michael McNamara, Clare’s Independent TD from Ireland South.
The likes of Ciarán Mullooly, a former journalist with RTÉ and an Independent Ireland candidate, and Niall Boylan, his party-mate and known radio personality, have also shown potential at winning a seat.
In the local election, the independent party could add up to 20 councillors to their ranks. It appears that significant number of voters are turning their backs on the government parties and choosing independent politicians instead.
Discussing this shift, Simon Harris, Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, applauded independent candidates’ dedication and effort. He believes the drop in Sinn Féin’s support is a more crucial issue than the rise of independent candidates.
Trying to justify her party’s underperformance, Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin leader, conjectured that voters’ displeasure with government policies might have translated into their preference for independent candidates and others.
The independent candidates hail from various political backgrounds, creating a versatile pool. For instance, Christy Burke, previously associated with Sinn Féin, was re-elected for Dublin City Council. Similarly, Paul Gogarty, a former Green Party TD member, held onto his position as an independent councillor on South Dublin County Council.
The Healy-Rae family, comprised of Jackie, Maura, and Johnny, have retained their positions within the Kerry County Council, standing as independent political figures. In a similar vein, Mattie McGrath’s daughter, Máirín, won a seat in Tipperary securing continued independent representation.
In Tipperary as well, the ‘Lowry Team’, comprised of independent politicians affiliated with TD Michael Lowry, snapped up four seats. Meanwhile, independent TD Verona Murphy collected strong backing in Wexford, with success in the recent elections.
Another high-profile figure to hold position was Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, formerly of the Independent Alliance, garnering 3,725 first votes to secure his place on Westmeath County Council. The former Minister of State for the Office of Public Works during the preceding Fine Gael minority rule expressed his intention to run for Dáil, stating, “I am 100 per cent running for the Dáil”.
His decision to run for Dáil is likely to be mirrored by other independent councillors, with a general election expected to take place within the coming nine months. Past records show Independent TDs have swayed the balance of power and marked success by acquiring infrastructure funds for their respective constituencies.
Presently, Independent TDs have managed to maintain the narrow majority of the current Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Green Party Coalition, especially during periods of no confidence motions. Their support comes at the price of access to Ministers to address concerns rather than constituency deals.
Predicting the composition of the next Dáil leaves room for the possibility of Independents playing a crucial role in determining outcomes. The recent influx of non-party candidates making their way into city and county councils could have a significant bearing on the future proceedings within Leinster House.