
Talks are underway to form the government of the 34th Dail Eireann
This article was written 02/12/2024
Fine Gael and Fine Fail have achieved what few other governing coalitions have been able to in 2024; a second term in office. However, with their proposed coalition remaining two short of an overall parliamentary majority, they require further support to form a viable coalition. Inevitably, attention has now turned towards the fourth largest political grouping in the Dail; the Independents.
Besides a brief period during the 1960s and 1970s Independent TD’s have always been a part of Irish politics. More surprisingly, and unlike in most countries, Independents are a significant political force. In 1982 the votes of two Independent TD’s brought down the government of Garrett Fitzgerald. And, in 2016, two Independents became Ministers in return for supporting the government. Whereas in the UK they represent less than 1% of all MP’s, they are 10% in the newly elected Dail.
For David Farrell, Professor of Politics at University College Dublin, “the Irish system of proportional representation” counts as a key reason behind the success of Independents. With votes being cast for candidates rather than parties, running for election as an Independent is not a fatal disadvantage. Moreover, the barriers for participation in an Irish election are relatively low, with only thirty signatures or five-hundred euros being required to stand. And, with constituencies being small and extremely localised, well organised Independents are often able to compete with better funded party campaigns. With each constituency electing four or five candidates, as little as six thousand votes can be enough to gain election.
Yet since 2011 the number of Independents elected to the Dail has drastically increased, peaking at 14% of all parliamentarians in 2020. According to Denis Naughten, former Independent TD for the Roscommon-Galway constituency and Minister for Communications Climate Action and Environment in the 2016 coalition government, one reason for this is the impact of social media. For him, the ability to “communicate those messages” which Independent candidates might struggle to convey to constituents through more traditional forms of campaigning, has been a key reason for their recent success. Perhaps the best example of the TikTok Independent is Michael Healy-Rae, a charismatic Independent TD representing Kerry since 2011. His seventy-thousand followers on TikTok have given him an almighty communications advantage over his rivals, enabling him to top the poll in his constituency with ease.
Yet whilst Independents undoubtedly provide a strong voice for the constituencies they represent, a vote for an Independent is inherently a vote against party-politics. According to Professor Farrell, it is an indication of “the corrosion of the party system”. Until 2007 the combined vote share of Fine Gael and Fine Fail typically exceeded 70%. Now it runs at 40%. So while to many Ireland, buoyed by €13 billion in back-tax from Apple and untroubled by the emergence of any organised far-right parties, has appeared to be an oasis of calm amongst the turbulence of Europe, the reality is more complicated. The country is wealthier than ever before, but chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, healthcare and housing means many are struggling to feel the benefits. The success of Independents indicates a frustration with the status-quo and a desire for change. And while they will likely form a part of the next government, their presence should remind all parties that they have been elected for a reason.