2011 Irish general election

Following the bailout of Irish banks and the deteriorating level of state debt that led to the Irish financial crisis, the Irish government agreed to a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund amid fears of a wider Eurozone crisis. The European Financial Stability Facility then offered the government a multibillion-euro deal for its new debt burden.

The notion of such a move was widely condemned in Ireland, with The Irish Times criticising Fianna Fáil that despite its "primary aims [to] the commitment 'to maintain the status of Ireland as a sovereign State'... The Republican Party's ideals are in tatters now."{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/1118/1224283626246.html |title=Was it for this? |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=18 November 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 |archive-date=21 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121220628/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/1118/1224283626246.html |url-status=live }}

Following the acceptance of the deal on 21 November 2010, the Green Party leader John Gormley called for the Taoiseach to fix a date for a general election in the second half of January 2011;{{cite web |url=http://greenparty.ie/en/news/latest_news/green_party_calls_for_new_year_election |title=Green Party calls for New Year election |date=22 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229135130/http://www.greenparty.ie/en/news/latest_news/green_party_calls_for_new_year_election |archive-date=29 December 2010}} however, he added that the party would support the coalition for the "coming weeks and months".{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1122/politics.html |title=Green Party calls for election date to be set |publisher=RTÉ News |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020042644/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1122/politics.html |url-status=live }} The Labour Party and Fine Gael called for an immediate election{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11814283 |work=BBC News |title=Ireland bail-out: Calls for election intensify |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=18 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918172553/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11814283 |url-status=live }} in order to seek "political certainty." On 22 November 2010, Taoiseach Brian Cowen indicated that the election would take place in early 2011 after the 2011 budgetary process{{cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/11/2010112219263374514.html |title=Irish election set for early 2011 |work=Aljazeera |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 |archive-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125074623/http://english.aljazeera.net//news/europe/2010/11/2010112219263374514.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1122/politics.html |title=Election to take place after the Budget |publisher=RTÉ News |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020042644/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1122/politics.html |url-status=live }} (a prerequisite to the bailout) had been completed.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-06/cowen-relies-on-sugar-daddy-to-gain-support-for-irish-budget-euro-credit.html |title=Cowen Relies on Sugar Daddy to Gain Support for Irish Budget: Euro Credit |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=6 December 2010 |first1=Dara |last1=Doyle |first2=Finbarr |last2=Flynn |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327233938/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-06/cowen-relies-on-sugar-daddy-to-gain-support-for-irish-budget-euro-credit.html |url-status=live }} There were fears that calling the election could trigger another credit downgrade.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-22/ireland-s-bid-for-financial-aid-prompts-moody-s-warning-election-threat.html |title=Irish Aid Bid Forces Cowen to Call Election, May Prompt Moody's Downgrade |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=22 November 2010 |first1=Dara |last1=Doyle |first2=Simone |last2=Meier |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125084525/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-22/ireland-s-bid-for-financial-aid-prompts-moody-s-warning-election-threat.html |url-status=live }}

On 16 January Cowen announced his decision to stay on as Taoiseach and to lead Fianna Fáil into the general election.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0116/politics.html |title=Cowen to continue as FF leader and Taoiseach |publisher=RTÉ News |date=16 January 2010 |access-date=16 January 2011 |archive-date=17 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117014002/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0116/politics.html |url-status=live }} On 18 January he called for and won a vote of confidence within the party (which had been precipitated by revelations of two previously undisclosed meetings with Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick) with a majority of the 71 Fianna Fáil deputies supporting him.{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/01/2011118221941635966.html |title=Irish PM survives confidence vote - Europe |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2011 |archive-date=30 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130182337/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/01/2011118221941635966.html |url-status=live }} Despite saying he would offer Cowen "full support", Foreign Minister Micheál Martin resigned.{{cite web |first=Alan |last=Fisher |url=http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2011/01/18/confidence-vote-claims-victim |title=Confidence vote claims a victim | Al Jazeera Blogs |publisher=Blogs.aljazeera.net |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2011 |archive-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124001600/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2011/01/18/confidence-vote-claims-victim |url-status=live }} However, following criticism within his party after his failed attempt to carry out a reshuffle of Fianna Fáil ministers, Cowen announced his resignation as leader of the party on 22 January. He confirmed he would remain as Taoiseach until after the election.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0122/politics.html |title=Cowen resigns as FF leader, remains Taoiseach |publisher=RTÉ News |date=22 January 2010 |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-date=23 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123180306/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0122/politics.html |url-status=live }}

The key dates were:

Ireland uses proportional representation with a single transferable vote, also known as PR–STV.{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional_representation |title=Proportional Representation – Information |work=Irish Citizens Information Board |access-date=26 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201073348/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional_representation |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=dead}} The general election took place in 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the state for 165 of the 166 seats in the Dáil, with the final seat taken by the outgoing Ceann Comhairle (chairman), returned automatically. Each multi-member constituency returns three, four or five Teachtaí Dála (Dáil deputies).

The closing date for nominations was 9 February 2011. A total of 566 candidates contested the election, nearly 100 more than the 2007 general election. The number of candidates per party was: Fine Gael (104), Fianna Fáil (75), Labour Party (68), Green Party (43), Sinn Féin (41), and Independents and smaller parties (233).{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0209/politics.html |title=Surge in number of Independent candidates |publisher=RTÉ News |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-date=10 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210174754/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0209/politics.html |url-status=live }} The latter figure includes 20 candidates affiliated to the United Left Alliance, 20 independents who ran under the New Vision label, eight Christian Solidarity Party candidates, six Workers' Party and five Fís Nua candidates.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0210/1224289432263.html |title=FF runs 30 fewer candidates as Independents standing doubles |newspaper=The Irish Times |last1=De Bréadún |first1=Deaglán |last2=Duncan |first2=Pamela |date=10 February 2011 |access-date=10 February 2011 |archive-date=10 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210033533/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0210/1224289432263.html |url-status=live }} Voting took place between 07:00 and 22:00 (WET).{{cite web |url=http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/02/taoiseach-at-aras-an-uachtarain/?cat=3 |title=Taoiseach at Áras an Uachtaráin |publisher=Irish Government News Service |work=merrionstreet.ie |date=1 February 2011 |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-date=16 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216123809/http://www.merrionstreet.ie//index.php//2011//02//taoiseach-at-aras-an-uachtarain//?cat=3 |url-status=live }}

{{Politics of the Republic of Ireland|Politics of Ireland}}

Section 7 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1927 requires that the Dáil be dissolved within five years after its first meeting following the previous election (14 June 2007).{{cite web |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1927/en/act/pub/0021/sec0007.html#sec7 |title=Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1927 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=3 September 2010 |archive-date=3 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503221616/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1927/en/act/pub/0021/sec0007.html#sec7 |url-status=live }} Article 16.3.2 of the Constitution of Ireland requires that a general election for members of Dáil Éireann must take place not later than thirty days after the dissolution. The next general election had to, therefore, take place no later than 14 July 2012.{{efn|Article 16.5 of the constitution states that the Dáil may sit for a period of up to seven years from its first meeting. It also allows a shorter period to be fixed by law; this is currently five years.}}

The current statutory framework for the setting of a date for polling day in the general election was set out in the Electoral Act 1992, as amended. Section 96 of the Electoral Act 1992 requires that the poll is held, not earlier than the seventeenth day or later than the twenty-fifth day, following the day on which the Dáil is formally dissolved by the President. The writs for the election are issued by the Clerk of the Dáil on the day the Dáil is dissolved.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin said the general election was likely to take place in mid-March 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/1214/1224285491072.html |title=Hanafin predicts election in mid-March |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122174641/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/1214/1224285491072.html |url-status=live }} Batt O'Keeffe, the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, hinted that the election might take place on 25 March.{{cite news |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/batt-okeeffe-flags-march-25-as-possible-election-date-487997.html |title=Batt O'Keeffe flags March 25 as possible election date |work=BreakingNews.ie |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-date=8 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108031058/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/batt-okeeffe-flags-march-25-as-possible-election-date-487997.html |url-status=live }} On 19 January the Green Party indicated that they expected the budgetary process to be completed by the end of February, and that the election should be held no later than the end of March.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0119/politics.html |title=Green Party wants election by March |publisher=RTÉ News |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=19 January 2011 |archive-date=21 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121024005/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0119/politics.html |url-status=live }} Brian Cowen attempted a reshuffle of his party's ministers on 20 January 2011. However, following the resignation of six cabinet ministers, it became clear that the Green Party would not allow him to fill the vacancies. He subsequently announced that the election for the 31st Dáil would take place on 11 March. Motions of no confidence in the outgoing government were tabled by Fine Gael for 25 January and by the Labour Party for 26 January;{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0122/breaking19.html |title=Cowen to face FG confidence vote |date=22 January 2011 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-date=29 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129071718/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0122/breaking19.html |url-status=live }} both parties said they would be willing to give the government time to expedite the Finance Act in return for bringing forward the election date.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0123/politics.html |title=Greens to consider next move |date=23 January 2011 |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124053348/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0123/politics.html |url-status=live }} Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said it could be moved by "a week or two at most".{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0123/politics1.html |title=Green Party withdraws from Government |date=23 January 2011 |publisher=RTÉ.ie |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124114818/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0123/politics1.html |url-status=live }} Cowen resigned as Fianna Fáil leader on 22 January, and the Green Party withdrew from government the next day, but promised to support the Finance Act.

On 28 January it was announced that Cowen intended to ask McAleese to dissolve the Dáil on 1 February.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0128/politics.html |title=Dáil set to be dissolved on Tuesday - Cowen |publisher=RTÉ News |date=28 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2011 |archive-date=29 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129233019/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0128/politics.html |url-status=live }} Cowen formally asked for a Dáil dissolution on 1 February, after the finance bill cleared parliament. In accordance with Irish constitutional practice (no Irish president has ever refused such a request), McAleese granted the dissolution.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0201/politics.html |title=LIVE – Dissolution of the 30th Dáil |work=RTÉ |date=1 February 2011 |access-date=16 February 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203013912/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0201/politics.html |url-status=live }}

As usual, certain offshore islands voted earlier than the rest of the country. Voters on Arranmore, Clare Island, Gola, Inishbiggle, Inishbofin (County Donegal), Inishfree, Inishturk and Tory Island headed to the polls on 23 February; voters on the Aran Islands and Inishbofin (County Galway) cast their ballots on 24 February.{{cite web |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/live-on-an-island-off-ireland-check-your-polling-dates-here-2011-02/ |work=TheJournal.ie |title=Live on an island off Ireland? Check your polling dates here |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=12 February 2011 |archive-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226084442/http://www.thejournal.ie/live-on-an-island-off-ireland-check-your-polling-dates-here-2011-02/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009}}

The number of TDs elected and the number of constituencies contested remained the same as for the previous general election, though there were substantial boundary changes.{{cite web |title=Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2009/en/act/pub/0004/index.html |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=28 September 2010 |archive-date=2 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602124505/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2009/en/act/pub/0004/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.constituency-commission.ie/docs%5Ccon2007.pdf |title=Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007 |publisher=Constituency Commission |date=23 October 2007 |access-date=14 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119033516/http://www.constituency-commission.ie/docs/con2007.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2007 }}

• Limerick East (5) replaced by Limerick City (4)
• Limerick West (3) replaced by Limerick (3)
• Kerry North (3) replaced by Kerry North–West Limerick (3)
• Dublin West (from 3 to 4)
• Dún Laoghaire (from 5 to 4)
• Louth (from 4 to 5)

:Number of seats given in brackets after constituency name.

Boundary changes were also made in twenty other constituencies.

The following 39 members of the 30th Dáil did not contest the 2011 general election.

^†Vacant seat, deputy had resigned before the dissolution of Dáil Éireann.

In four constituencies (Cavan–Monaghan, Cork North-West, Dublin North-West, and Dublin South-Central) Fianna Fáil nominated fewer candidates than it had outgoing TDs, effectively conceding a seat in each.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-to-give-up-on-at-least-four-seats-2511041.html |title=FF to give up on at least four seats |work=Irish Independent |date=26 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2011 |first=Fionnan |last=Sheahan}}

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams (an MP and MLA for Belfast West) announced on 15 November 2010 that he would resign both these seats and contest the Louth constituency at the following Irish general election, in an attempt to retain the seat being vacated by the retirement of Arthur Morgan.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1114/adamsg.html |title=Adams to run for election in Louth |publisher=RTÉ News |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=20 November 2010 |archive-date=17 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117085152/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1114/adamsg.html |url-status=live }}

A number of election candidates were given formal warnings not to place election posters until the date had been announced.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0125/1224288250539.html |title=Posters banned until election is called |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2011 |first=Ronan |last=McGreevy |archive-date=28 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065749/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0125/1224288250539.html |url-status=live }}

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin stated that the party would not rule out supporting a minority Fine Gael government if its policies were in line with Fianna Fáil's programme for economic recovery.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0129/politics.html |title=FF may support FG minority government |publisher=RTÉ News |date=29 January 2011 |access-date=30 January 2011 |archive-date=30 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130231631/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0129/politics.html |url-status=live }} On 31 January 2011 Martin named Mary Hanafin as the new deputy leader,{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0131/politics.html |title=Mary Hanafin named new FF Deputy Leader |publisher=RTÉ News |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-date=1 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201211034/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0131/politics.html |url-status=live }} while the government chief whip John Curran was named as justice spokesman. Barry Andrews was appointed as health spokesman, Billy Kelleher transport, Peter Power foreign affairs and trade, and Niall Collins defence. He also appointed Willie O'Dea, a former Minister of Defence who had resigned in February 2010 after committing perjury in front of the High Court, as communications spokesperson. Brian Lenihan would continue as the finance spokesman in addition to being Finance Minister.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12328573 |title=New Fianna Fáil front bench is named |work=BBC News |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=2 February 2011 |archive-date=7 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107083339/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12328573 |url-status=live }}

In early February, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told political parties to go ahead with the terms of the EU-IMF financial bailout plan. This came despite Fine Gael and Labour saying they would like to see a renegotiation of some of the key elements of the deal.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0204/1224288985792.html |title=Trichet urges party leaders to accept terms of EU-IMF rescue package |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=4 February 2011 |first1=Arthur |last1=Beesley |first2=Harry |last2=McGee |first3=Paul |last3=Cullen |first4=Mary |last4=Minihan |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-date=12 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212235026/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0204/1224288985792.html |url-status=live }} Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore asked voters to choose between "Frankfurt's Way or Labour's Way".

Micheál Martin was involved in an alleged racist gaffe, mocking a Chinese accent while speaking on his party's innovation proposals at the Dublin Web Summit.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/election2011/2011/02/14/ff-leader-martin-in-chinese-gaffe/ |title=FF leader Martin in Chinese gaffe |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=20 February 2011 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218051146/http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/election2011/2011/02/14/ff-leader-martin-in-chinese-gaffe/ |url-status=live }}

During the campaign, there were numerous reports of infighting between Fianna Fáil candidates Peter Power and Willie O'Dea in Limerick City,{{cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Anne |url=http://www.limerickleader.ie:80/news/general-election-2011/willie_o_dea_accuses_limerick_running_mate_of_dishonest_trick_1_2447173 |title=Willie O'Dea accuses Limerick running mate of "dishonest" trick |publisher=Limerick Leader |access-date=27 February 2011 |archive-date=28 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228075657/http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/general-election-2011/willie_o_dea_accuses_limerick_running_mate_of_dishonest_trick_1_2447173 |url-status=live }} Cyprian Brady and Mary Fitzpatrick in Dublin Central,{{cite web |author=Eating out |url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/ff-turn-on-each-other-over-scraps-2556172.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909222422/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/ff-turn-on-each-other-over-scraps-2556172.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2012 |title=FF turn on each other over scraps |work=Evening Herald |date=18 November 2010 |access-date=27 February 2011}}{{cite news|first=Michael|last=White|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/25/irish-general-election-parties-divided|title=Irish general election turns into slanging match with parties divided|work=The Guardian|date=25 February 2011|access-date=27 February 2011|location=London|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921065508/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/25/irish-general-election-parties-divided|url-status=live}} and Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews in Dún Laoghaire.

A number of parties and political alliances were set up in order to contest the election.

The United Left Alliance was set up on 25 November 2010, announcing it would field twenty candidates in the election. The group consisted of People Before Profit, the Socialist Party and the Tipperary South-based Workers and Unemployed Action. However, the group failed to get its name mentioned on the ballot.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0202/1224288771153.html |title=Grouping abandons move to get its name on ballot |last=Cullen |first=Paul |date=2 February 2011 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=4 February 2011 |archive-date=4 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204070624/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0202/1224288771153.html |url-status=live }}

{{anchor|Democracy Now}} A number of public figures, including journalists Fintan O'Toole, David McWilliams and Eamon Dunphy, discussed standing as members of a loose alliance dubbed "Democracy Now" to reform the political system and replace the IMF bailout agreement with a structured debt default.{{cite news |url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/democracy-now-celebs-ditch-their-election-bid-2517860.html |title=Democracy Now celebs ditch their election bid |last=O'Keeffe |first=Alan |date=31 January 2011 |work=Evening Herald |access-date=3 February 2011 |archive-date=3 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203011612/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/democracy-now-celebs-ditch-their-election-bid-2517860.html |url-status=live }} O'Toole wrote on 29 January that, once the election date was brought forward from late March, "the risk of going off half-cocked seemed to outweigh the hope of making a difference", and the plan was abandoned.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0129/1224288524065.html |title=The decision that I made on contesting this general election |last=O'Toole |first=Fintan |date=29 January 2011 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-date=31 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131010928/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0129/1224288524065.html |url-status=live }} The Evening Herald reported that "almost half of the 20 figures approached by Democracy Now in [late January] were unable to commit to the campaign". Finian McGrath, Catherine Murphy, and Shane Ross, who stood as independents, were also involved in the proposal.

The newly registered party Fís Nua announced on 5 February that it was running six candidates in the election, three of whom were former Green Party members.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0207/1224289183570.html |title=New party targets corruption |last=Gartland |first=Fiona |date=7 February 2011 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=7 February 2011 |archive-date=13 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213002405/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0207/1224289183570.html |url-status=live }}

Micheál Martin proposed that a series of debates between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party should take place on RTÉ, TV3 and a debate in Irish on TG4. This proposal was accepted by the Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore.{{cite news |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eysnauidsngb/ |title=Gilmore agrees to Martin's debate proposal 'in principle' |work=BreakingNews.ie |date=26 January 2011 |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122948/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eysnauidsngb/ |url-status=live }} On 27 January, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny proposed a five-way debate which was also to include Sinn Féin and the Green Party.{{cite news|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eysnausngbcw/|title=Kenny calls for five-way TV election debates|work=BreakingNews.ie|date=27 January 2011|access-date=5 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122953/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eysnausngbcw/|url-status=live}} Kenny refused to take part in any debate that would involve TV3 news broadcaster Vincent Browne. In September 2010, Browne had made a comment on his show that Kenny "should go into a dark room with a gun and bottle of whiskey".{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/browne-to-apologise-for-silly-suggestion-of-kenny-suicide-2363468.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802093543/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/browne-to-apologise-for-silly-suggestion-of-kenny-suicide-2363468.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Browne to apologise for 'silly' suggestion of Kenny suicide |work=Irish Independent |date=4 October 2010 |first=Michael |last=Brennan }} Browne has since apologised for the remark,{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0205/1224289077071.html |title=Kenny refuses to take part in TV3 debate |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=5 February 2011 |first=Paul |last=Cullen |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101114400/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0205/1224289077071.html |url-status=live }} and said he would step aside as moderator of the TV3 three-way leaders' debate if Kenny agreed to take part.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html |title=Gilmore urges Kenny to take part in TV3 debate |publisher=RTÉ News |date=5 February 2011 |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-date=6 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206150537/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html |url-status=live }} Responding to TV3's offer to replace Browne as moderator, Kenny stated that a clash in his schedule meant he was unable to take part in the debate.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0206/election.html |title=Enda Kenny rules out TV3 debate |publisher=RTÉ News |date=6 February 2011 |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-date=7 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207174157/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0206/election.html |url-status=live }}

In negotiations, TV3 proposed following the British model, in which the moderator does not ask follow-up questions and does not criticise or comment on the leaders' answers. However, the right of journalist Vincent Browne to "seek factual clarification where necessary" was reserved. It was agreed Browne would sit between Micheál Martin and Eamon Gilmore, and their positions either to the right or left of him were determined by the drawing of lots. Although both Martin and Gilmore had requested that an empty chair be left to represent the absence of Kenny, this was ruled out by TV3.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0209/1224289346846.html |title=Order in the house: debate rules |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=9 February 2011 |first=Mary |last=Minihan |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-date=10 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210052218/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0209/1224289346846.html |url-status=live }}

A second debate lasting an hour took place on RTÉ on 14 February. The debate was hosted by Pat Kenny and involved leaders of the five main parties; Micheál Martin, Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley and Gerry Adams. The studio audience consisted of 140 undecided voters, six of whom asked pre-set questions. Leaders were given 45 seconds to respond to the question with efforts made to confine contributions to 45 seconds during the "free debate".{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0215/1224289832383.html |title=No clear winner as Kenny holds his own in five-way leader debate |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=15 February 2011 |first=Harry |last=Mcgee |access-date=15 February 2011 |archive-date=19 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219005933/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0215/1224289832383.html |url-status=live }}

The third debate took place on TG4 in Irish, the first debate to take place in the Irish language. The fourth and final debate took place on RTÉ on 22 February.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0222/politics.html |title=Leaders clash in final election debate |date=23 February 2011 |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222221747/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0222/politics.html |url-status=live }} The final debate was watched by an average television audience of 800,000 people.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0223/primetime.html |title=800,000 watch leaders' debate |date=23 February 2011 |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-date=25 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225235544/http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0223/primetime.html |url-status=live }}

The following people were appointed by their parties to act as their director of elections:{{cite web |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfeyojididey/rss2/ |title=The men behind the parties |publisher=The Examiner |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=15 July 2011 |archive-date=24 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224221922/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfeyojididey/rss2/ |url-status=live }}

• Fianna Fáil – Tony Killeen
• Fine Gael – Phil Hogan
• Labour Party – Ruairi Quinn
• Green Party – Donal Geoghegan
• Sinn Féin – Brian Tumilty

{{main|Opinion polling for the 2011 Irish general election}}

{{original research|section|date=February 2017}}

[[File:Election opinion polls irish 2007-2011.png|thumb|center|900px|4-point average trend line of poll results from 23 September 2007 to 26 February 2011, with each line corresponding to a political party.

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

{{Legend-line|{{party color|Fianna Fáil}} solid 5px|Fianna Fáil}}

{{Legend-line|{{party color|Fine Gael}} solid 5px|Fine Gael}}

{{Legend-line|{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}} solid 5px|Labour Party}}

{{Legend-line|{{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}} solid 5px|Green Party}}

{{Legend-line|{{party color|Sinn Féin}} solid 5px|Sinn Féin}}

{{Legend-line|#777777 solid 5px|Others}}

}}]]

The parties maintained their results from the 2007 general election for about eighteen months afterwards, with little change in polling figures. Fianna Fáil enjoyed a small bounce in May 2008 after the election of Brian Cowen to succeed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.

Fine Gael took the lead in opinion polls after the October 2008 budget, which included tax increases and spending cuts to address the growing financial crisis. A second emergency budget in April 2009 continued the downward trend in the popularity of the government parties, with Labour now capturing the gains from disaffected Fianna Fáil supporters. Two polls in the first half of 2009 showed Fianna Fáil coming third, behind both Fine Gael and Labour. Most polls between the 2009 local elections and the summer of 2010 showed Fine Gael far ahead in first place, around the mid-30s, with Fianna Fáil in the mid-20s and Labour in the low 20s.

An Irish Times poll on 11 June 2010 gave Labour an unprecedented 32%, ahead of Fine Gael on 28% and Fianna Fáil on 17%. This surprise result was followed by the unsuccessful leadership challenge by Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton against Enda Kenny; a period of instability followed, during which Labour challenged Fine Gael for first place in the polls.

As the economic crisis continued to worsen in late 2010, Fianna Fáil fell below 20% support, and did not recover from this in any opinion polls taken before the election. In November 2010, the EU/IMF rescue, followed by an historic defeat at the Donegal South-West by-election, marked a new period in opinion polling. Fianna Fáil and the Green Party fell to unprecedented lows, with improvements for Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and independent candidates, and a decline in Labour's position. Fine Gael took a strong lead in polling, with Labour safely in second place, while Fianna Fáil struggled to maintain third place, just ahead of Sinn Féin and independents, all polling in the low teens.

As the election campaign began in February, Fine Gael enjoyed a surge at the expense of the other parties. Results in the high 30s suggested that Fine Gael could form a government on its own, rather than with its traditional coalition partners in the Labour Party. However, the exit poll taken on election night, and the subsequent results on the following days, showed an eleventh-hour fall in Fine Gael support to the mid-30s, the benefits of which seemed to accrue to Fianna Fáil and Independents.

Polling for parliamentary represented parties is as such:

{{see also|Members of the 31st Dáil}}{{Cite web

| url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/?q=D%C3%A1il%20General%20Election%20Results%20and%20Transfer%20of%20Votes&author%5B%5D=dail-eireann&date=&term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fdail%2F33&fromDate=10%2F06%2F2020&toDate=10%2F06%2F2020&topic%5B%5D=elections&topic%5B%5D=election-results

| title = 31st DÁIL GENERAL ELECTION February, 2011 Election Results and Transfer of Votes

| website = oireachtas.ie

| access-date = 2020-06-10

| archive-date = 10 June 2020

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200610191629/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/?q=D%C3%A1il%20General%20Election%20Results%20and%20Transfer%20of%20Votes&author%5B%5D=dail-eireann&date=&term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fdail%2F33&fromDate=10%2F06%2F2020&toDate=10%2F06%2F2020&topic%5B%5D=elections&topic%5B%5D=election-results

| url-status = live

}}

| {{color|{{party color|People Before Profit}}|}}

| {{color|{{party color|Workers and Unemployed Action}}|}}

|}

{{election table|title=|sortable=yes}}

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" colspan="13"|31st Irish general election – 25 February 2011

|-

! style="background-color:white;" colspan=13| File:Irish general election 2011.svg

|- style="text-align:left;"

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Party

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | Leader

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | First
Pref votes

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | % FPv

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | Swing%

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | TDs

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | Change
(since 2007)

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9; text-align:center;" | % of
seats

|-

| {{Party name with color|Fine Gael}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Enda|Kenny}}

| 801,628

| 36.1

| {{increase}}8.8

| 76

| {{increase}}25

| 45.8

|-

| {{Party name with color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Eamon|Gilmore}}

| 431,796

| 19.5

| {{increase}}9.3

| 37

| {{increase}}17

| 22.3

|-

| {{Party name with color|Fianna Fáil}}{{efn|name=CC}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Micheál|Martin}}

| 387,358

| 17.5

| {{decrease}}24.2

| 20

| {{decrease}}58

| 12.0

|-

| {{Party name with color|Sinn Féin}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Gerry|Adams}}

| 220,661

| 9.9

| {{increase}}3.0

| 14

| {{increase}}10

| 8.4

|-

| {{Party name with color|Socialist Party (Ireland)}}

| style="text-align:left;" |None

| 26,770

| 1.2

| {{increase}}0.6

| 2

| {{increase}}2

| 1.2

|-

| {{Party name with color|People Before Profit Alliance}}

| style="text-align:left;" |None

| 21,551

| 1.0

| {{increase}}0.6

| 2

| {{increase}}2

| 1.2

|-

| {{Party name with color|Workers and Unemployed Action}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Séamus|Healy}}

| 8,818

| 0.4

| {{increase}}0.1

| 1

| {{increase}}1

| 0.6

|-

| {{Party name with color|Green Party (Ireland)}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|John|Gormley}}

| 41,039

| 1.8

| {{decrease}}2.9

| 0

| {{decrease}}6

| 0

|-

| {{Party name with color|South Kerry Independent Alliance}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Michael|Gleeson|dab=politician}}

| 4,939

| 0.2

| {{increase}}0.2

| 0

| {{steady}}

| 0

|-

| {{Party name with color|Workers' Party (Ireland)}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Mick|Finnegan}}

| 3,056

| 0.1

| {{steady}} 0

| 0

| {{steady}}

| 0

|-

| {{Party name with color|Christian Solidarity Party}}

| style="text-align:left;" |{{sortname|Richard|Greene|Richard Greene (politician)}}

| 2,102

| 0.1

| {{steady}} 0

| 0

| {{steady}}

| 0

|-

| {{Party name with color|Fís Nua}}

| style="text-align:left;" |None

| 938

| 0

| New

| 0

| New

| 0

|-

| {{Party name with color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}

| style="text-align:left;" |—{{efn|Elected independent candidates were Stephen Donnelly, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (of New Vision), Tom Fleming, Noel Grealish, John Halligan, Michael Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry, Finian McGrath, Mattie McGrath, Catherine Murphy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Thomas Pringle, Shane Ross, and Mick Wallace.}}

| 269,703

| 12.1

| {{increase}}6.9

| 14

| {{increase}}9

| 8.4

|- class="unsortable"

! colspan=3 style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | Total

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | 2,220,359

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | 100

! {{n/a}}

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | 166

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | Turnout

! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | 70.0%

{{end}}

The United Left Alliance (ULA) won 59,423 votes (2.7%) and five seats. The ULA comprised the Socialist Party, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Workers and Unemployed Action and independent candidate Declan Bree (2,284 votes).

Independents include New Vision candidates (25,422 votes) and People's Convention candidates (1,512 votes).

• Fine Gael and Labour Party majority coalition government formed.

{{Pie chart

|caption= First preference vote Share of different parties in the election.

|other = yes

|value1 = 36.1

|label1 = Fine Gael

|color1 = {{party color|Fine Gael}}

|value2 = 19.5

|label2 = Labour Party

|color2 = {{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}

|value3 = 17.5

|label3 = Fianna Fáil

|color3 = {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}

|value4 = 9.9

|label4 = Sinn Féin

|color4 = {{party color|Sinn Féin}}

|value5 = 1.8

|label5 = Green Party

|color5 = {{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}}

|value6 = 1.2

|label6 = Socialist Party

|color6 = {{party color|Socialist Party (Ireland)}}

|value7 = 1.0

|label7 = People Before Profit

|color7 = {{party color|People Before Profit}}

}}

{{bar box

|title=First preference vote

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=600px

|barwidth=350px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{party color|Fine Gael}}|36.10}}

{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}|19.45}}

{{bar percent|Fianna Fáil|{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}|17.44}}

{{bar percent|Sinn Féin|{{party color|Sinn Féin}}|9.94}}

{{bar percent|Green|{{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}}|1.85}}

{{bar percent|Socialist|{{party color|Socialist Party (Ireland)}}|1.21}}

{{bar percent|People Before Profit|{{party color|People Before Profit}}|0.97}}

{{bar percent|Workers and Unemployed Action|{{party color|Workers and Unemployed Action}}|0.40}}

{{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.50}}

{{bar percent|Independent|{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}|12.15}}

}}

{{bar box

|title=Dáil seats

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=600px

|barwidth=350px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{party color|Fine Gael}}|45.78}}

{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}|22.29}}

{{bar percent|Fianna Fáil|{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}|12.05}}

{{bar percent|Sinn Féin|{{party color|Sinn Féin}}|8.43}}

{{bar percent|Socialist|{{party color|Socialist Party (Ireland)}}|1.20}}

{{bar percent|People Before Profit|{{party color|People Before Profit}}|1.20}}

{{bar percent|Workers and Unemployed Action|{{party color|Workers and Unemployed Action}}|0.60}}

{{bar percent|Independent|{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}|8.43}}

}}

Fianna Fáil suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state, and amongst the worst ever suffered by any Western European governing party. The party's first-preference vote plunged to 17.5 per cent – less than half of its first-preference vote from 2007. Without a significant number of transfers, the election count quickly turned into a rout.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0227/election.html |title=FG looks to form Govt as final results emerge |publisher=RTÉ News |date=27 February 2011 |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-date=27 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227191146/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0227/election.html |url-status=live }}

From 77 seats at dissolution, the party was reduced to a rump of 20 TDs, the worst election result in the party's 85-year history. The 57-seat loss far exceeded Fine Gael's 15-seat loss in 1977, the previous record for the worst defeat of a sitting government. By comparison, after the five elections since 1932 at which Fianna Fáil was consigned to opposition, it remained the largest party in the Dáil, with well over 60 TDs.

The party suffered a near-total meltdown in Dublin, which had been one of the party's strongholds since 1977. Twelve of the party's 13 Dublin TDs seeking re-election were defeated. Outgoing Finance Minister Brian Lenihan Jnr barely retained his Dublin West seat on the fifth count, and was, until his death on 10 June 2011, the lone Fianna Fáil TD from the capital.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0227/breaking5.html |title=FF almost wiped out in Dublin |newspaper=The Irish Times |author=Doyle, Kilian |date=27 February 2011 |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304202623/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0227/breaking5.html |url-status=live }} Notably, the party was completely shut out in Dublin Central, which former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had represented for 34 years.

The most high-profile casualty was Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan, who lost the seat she had held in Donegal South-West since 1987. The Guardian newspaper described it as "Ireland's Portillo moment".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/feb/28/fianna-fail-ireland-election |work=The Guardian |first=Padraig |last=Reidy |title=After Fianna Fáil: a new Ireland takes shape |date=28 February 2011 |location=London |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=25 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125185532/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/feb/28/fianna-fail-ireland-election |url-status=live }} She was the second Tánaiste in a row to lose their own seat in an election, after Michael McDowell in 2007. Other senior cabinet ministers who lost their seats included Pat Carey and Mary Hanafin. Junior ministers who lost their seats included Barry Andrews, Áine Brady, Seán Connick, John Curran, Seán Haughey, Conor Lenihan, Martin Mansergh, Peter Power and Dick Roche. Fianna Fáil also had no women TDs in the 31st Dáil.

The severity of the defeat came as a shock to many of Fianna Fáil's senior leaders. Martin and others had concluded almost as soon as the election writ was drawn up that the party would not win a record fifth consecutive term in government. However, while they anticipated massive losses, they had hoped to hold on to at least 30 seats.

Fine Gael became largest party in the Dáil for the first time in its 78-year history. The party won 76 seats, six more than its previous record seat count in 1982. There initially had been talk of Fine Gael winning an overall majority—something no Irish party has done since 1977—but the party ultimately came up seven seats short. The party also took 17 seats in the Dublin region-its best result in 29 years-to become the second party in the capital.

The Labour Party made a very strong showing, almost doubling its share of the vote to become the second-largest party in the Dáil, its best showing ever. It also took 18 seats in Dublin to become the first party in the capital. However, in contrast to predictions by Eamon Gilmore,{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0721/breaking2.html |title=Gilmore rules out FF coalition |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=21 July 2010 |access-date=16 April 2011 |archive-date=11 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311220433/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0721/breaking2.html |url-status=live }} most of the party's gains were in the Greater Dublin, Munster and Leinster constituencies. Despite an increase in its vote, the party only managed to win two seats in Connacht, both of which were in County Galway.

Sinn Féin also made significant gains. All its sitting TDs were returned, Seán Crowe regaining the seat in Dublin South-West he lost in 2007, and party president Gerry Adams retaining Arthur Morgan's seat in Louth, topping the poll. In addition to winning targeted seats such as Dublin Central, Dublin North-West and Meath West the party gained unexpected seats in Cork East and Sligo–North Leitrim. It won 14 seats, the best performance for the party's current incarnation.

The Green Party lost all of the six seats it had previously held, including that of party leader John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, both of whom served as cabinet ministers in the previous government.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0227/breaking2.html |newspaper=The Irish Times |title=Kenny leads Fine Gael to win as Fianna Fáil vote collapses |date=27 February 2011 |access-date=27 February 2011 |first=Kilian |last=Doyle |archive-date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101114307/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0227/breaking2.html |url-status=live }} Three out of their six incumbent TDs lost their deposits. The party's share of the vote fell below 2%, meaning that they could not reclaim election expenses, and their lack of parliamentary representation led to the ending of state funding for the party. This financial crisis made it likely that the Greens may have been forced to close their Dublin office and make "some if not all" of their staff redundant.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0301/1224291080510.html |title=Failure to get votes likely to result in party's office closing |last=McGee |first=Harry |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011 |archive-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303231808/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0301/1224291080510.html |url-status=live }}

The United Left Alliance won five seats. Two former TDs returned to the Dáil: Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party and Séamus Healy of the Workers and Unemployed Action. Clare Daly became the Socialist Party's second-ever TD. The People Before Profit won its first two seats in Dáil Éireann, with Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins elected. United Left Alliance candidates won a combined vote share of 2.7%, more than the Green Party.

The 2011 election resulted in a record number of first time TDs, with 76 elected for the first time.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/latest-news/breaking-the-mould-as-70-in-dail-for-first-time-2559049.html |title=Breaking the mould as 70 in Dáil for first time |work=Irish Independent |date=28 February 2011 |first=Fiach |last=Kelly |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101110736/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/latest-news/breaking-the-mould-as-70-in-dail-for-first-time-2559049.html |url-status=live }}

It was the first occasion in which no political party won a seat in every constituency. Fine Gael took a seat in every constituency with the exception of Dublin North-West.

Labour Party TDs Dominic Hannigan and John Lyons became the first openly gay people to be elected to the Dáil.{{cite web |url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/first-openly-gay-tds-are-proud-to-blaze-a-trail-2560433.html |title=First openly gay TDs are proud to blaze a trail |work=Evening Herald |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304160927/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/first-openly-gay-tds-are-proud-to-blaze-a-trail-2560433.html |url-status=live }}

Forty-five sitting TDs (27% of the total) lost their Dáil seats: Fianna Fáil (35), Green Party (6), Fine Gael (3) and Independent (1).{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/index.html |title=Election 2011 Results: National Summary |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=1 March 2011 |date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903011006/http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/index.html |archive-date= 3 September 2011 }}

Eight former TDs were re-elected.{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Collins (journalist)|title=Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad|year=2011|publisher=Gill & Macmillan|location=Dublin|page=185|isbn=9780717150595}}

The leading vote-getter in 2011 was Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. The candidate who won the highest percentage of a quota was Fine Gael's Michael Noonan. The top ten by votes won were:

Kenny said he would work on a quick formation of a new government, calling the verdict a "democratic revolution." He also said his top priority will be renegotiating the bailout.{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Dara |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-28/ireland-s-kenny-to-reopen-eu-bailout-talks-after-democratic-revolution-.html |title=Kenny Starts Irish Coalition Talks, Aims to Ease Bailout Terms |publisher=Bloomberg |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303070929/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-28/ireland-s-kenny-to-reopen-eu-bailout-talks-after-democratic-revolution-.html |url-status=live }} Despite his attempts to renegotiate the bailout, which was a condition in coalition talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel response was read as a blow to these attempts when she said "We can't get to a point where Ireland pays lower interest rates than Portugal. [Ireland and Greece had] tapped an aid programme [and agreed to conditions that they must fulfil]. If the Irish government now has a problem with interest rates, our job is to figure out what we can do – or whether we can do anything."{{cite news |author=Taxing issue |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-bailout-blow-2563678.html |title=Kenny bailout blow |work=Irish Independent |date=18 November 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305214529/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-bailout-blow-2563678.html |url-status=live }} Pressure continued to mount on Kenny's attempt to reconfigure the loan terms of the bailout as Merkel was scheduled to attend a European People's Party leaders' meet that Kenny, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Union President Herman Van Rompuy (of Belgium's CD&V) were also attending. Host Finnish Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen, facing an election of his own, also opposed lowering Ireland's average loan rate of 5.8%. In response to talking about indebted states cannot expect concessions having agreed to additional measures to boost competitiveness and stabilise their finances, he said: "You can't be rewarded by others for doing your job well. The concession is that those countries' credibility in the markets will improve."{{cite news |last=Czuczka |first=Tony |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-03/merkel-risks-clash-on-calls-to-cut-irish-bailout-terms-in-euro-rescue-push.html |title=Merkel Risking Clash Over Ireland's Bailout Terms in Push to Rescue Euro |publisher=Bloomberg |date=4 March 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306065329/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-03/merkel-risks-clash-on-calls-to-cut-irish-bailout-terms-in-euro-rescue-push.html |url-status=live }}

The euro declined after the election on speculation the new government would seek to revalue the bailout with senior bank bond holders.{{cite news |last=Zachariahs |first=Candice |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-27/euro-is-near-two-week-low-versus-yen-on-ireland-vote-middle-east-unrest.html |title=Yen, Franc Strengthen as Middle East Tension Spurs Demand for Safer Assets |publisher=Bloomberg |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303071953/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-27/euro-is-near-two-week-low-versus-yen-on-ireland-vote-middle-east-unrest.html |url-status=live }} The Irish Stock Exchange's ISEQ index increased by over 1% on 28 February following the election.

The Irish Independent blamed Bertie Ahern and his finance ministers Charlie McCreevy and Brian Cowen for having ignored warnings on public finances from civil servants during the Celtic Tiger days.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/how-ahern-ignored-key-warnings-on-economy-2561798.html |title=How Ahern ignored key warnings on economy |work=Irish Independent |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |first=Siobhan |last=Creaton |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305031837/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/how-ahern-ignored-key-warnings-on-economy-2561798.html |url-status=live }}

The election result was read as harsh on the euro which Bloomberg read as its intention was to "provide economic harmony... [and] ensure political stability." Of which it said neither has happened. It also suggested that:{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Lynn |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-28/euro-saviors-flinch-at-place-in-history-s-dustbin-matthew-lynn.html |title=Euro Saviors Flinch at Place in History's Dustbin |publisher=Businessweek |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303211107/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-28/euro-saviors-flinch-at-place-in-history-s-dustbin-matthew-lynn.html |url-status=dead }}

{{blockquote|What happens in Ireland doesn't matter much to anyone but the Irish... But the Irish results are a sneak preview of greater turmoil ahead. Chancellor Angela Merkel's approval ratings are at risk as her party strikes electoral trouble in Germany. President Nicolas Sarkozy's re-election in France is surely in doubt. And Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi seems finished as a force in Italian politics, not just because of his interest in young women.}}

The Irish Times columnist Diarmaid Ferriter likened Fianna Fáil's electoral meltdown to the 1918 election, which saw the Irish Parliamentary Party nearly wiped off the map by Sinn Féin. According to Ferriter, in both cases the electorate rejected "a tired old movement, arrogant from long-time electoral dominance". He even suggested Fianna Fáil might have been swept out of the chamber entirely in a first-past-the-post system, and that the party now faced a battle to stay relevant on the Irish political scene.

With the largest number of seats, but not a majority, Fine Gael was the most likely party to lead the new government. There had been speculation that the party might be able to form a single-party minority government supported by a number of independents or by Fianna Fáil. However, it became clear almost as soon as the result was beyond doubt that Fine Gael's senior leadership preferred to go into coalition with the Labour Party.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0301/1224291080459.html |title=Senior FG politicians in favour of Labour deal |last=Collins |first=Stephen |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304203313/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0301/1224291080459.html |url-status=live }} Following a meeting of the leaders of the two parties, negotiating teams were appointed on 1 March to discuss the possibility of agreeing a joint programme for government.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0301/breaking1.html|title=FG, Labour talks continue|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=1 March 2011|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=2 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302130836/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0301/breaking1.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Talks on Coalition formation begin |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0301/politics.html |publisher=RTÉ News |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011 |archive-date=2 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302130833/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0301/politics.html |url-status=live }} The teams were Michael Noonan, Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter for Fine Gael and Joan Burton, Brendan Howlin and Pat Rabbitte for Labour. After meeting for a second day they described the talks as "friendly". Officials from the Department of Finance and the National Treasury Management Agency also briefed them on economic issues as opposition parties had not been briefed before the election. Burton then said there was a "very challenging situation in the banking sector".{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0302/politics.html |title=Fine Gael and Labour briefed on economy |publisher=RTÉ News |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304000024/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0302/politics.html |url-status=live }}

Late on the night of 5 March, Fine Gael and Labour reached a formal coalition agreement. The programme for government was ratified the following day by a special delegate conference of the Labour Party and by a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party. This cleared the way for Enda Kenny to be nominated as Taoiseach on 9 March.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0306/politics.html |title=Fine Gael & Labour to form next Government |date=6 March 2011 |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102235554/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0306/politics.html |url-status=live }} The coalition deal was opposed within the Labour Party by Tommy Broughan and Joanna Tuffy.{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/general-election/labours-deal-with-fg-was-opposed-by-second-td-15106750.html |title=Labour's deal with FG was opposed by second TD |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019174947/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/general-election/labours-deal-with-fg-was-opposed-by-second-td-15106750.html |url-status=live }}

When the 31st Dáil convened on 9 March, Kenny was the only candidate proposed for nomination as Taoiseach, and was nominated by 117 votes for to 27 against. As well as Fine Gael and Labour, he was supported by a number of independent TDs, while Fianna Fáil abstained on the vote.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0310/1224291778434.html |title=Kenny elected Taoiseach by record 90-vote majority |last=O'Halloran |first=Marie |date=10 March 2010 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=10 March 2011 |archive-date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101110734/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0310/1224291778434.html |url-status=live }} Labour had five of the fifteen cabinet ministers, including Gilmore as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0309/politics.html |title=Enda Kenny reveals new Cabinet |date=9 March 2011 |publisher=RTÉ News |access-date=10 March 2011 |archive-date=10 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310061842/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0309/politics.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/03/taoiseach-names-new-cabinet/?cat=3 |title=Taoiseach names new Cabinet |date=9 March 2011 |publisher=Irish Government News Service |access-date=10 March 2011 |archive-date=10 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310152741/http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/03/taoiseach-names-new-cabinet/?cat=3 |url-status=live }}

The Dáil election was followed by the election to the 24th Seanad.

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal|last=White|first=Timothy J.|title=The 2011 Irish General Election: Critical, Realigning, Deviating, or Something Else?.|journal=Irish Journal of Public Policy|volume=3|issue=2|date=2011|pages=77–90 |doi=10.33178/ijpp.3.2.7 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273381470|doi-access=free}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060239/http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/publications/2011_Electoral_Handbookrev.pdf Official election results handbook by the Irish Government]
• [http://electionsireland.org/results/general/31stdail/candidates.cfm Retirements and Candidates for 31st Dáil] (ElectionsIreland.org)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111213184751/http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/ RTÉ News – Election 2011] (Archived)
• [http://www.irishtimes.com/topics/election2011/ The Irish Times – Election 2011]
• [http://www.irishpoliticians.com/ IrishPoliticians.com – Candidates by constituency, party and gender]
• [http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ireland/ NSD: European Election Database – Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623114525/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ireland/ |date=23 June 2014 }} publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1992–2011

• Fianna Fáil: [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110221163115/http://election.fiannafail.ie/page/-/images/Election%202011/FF-RealPlan-RealFuture.pdf Real Plan Better Future]
• Fine Gael: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111014163110/http://www.finegael2011.com/pdf/Fine%20Gael%20Manifesto%20low-res.pdf Let’s Get Ireland Working/ Cuirimis Éire Ag Obair]}}
• Green Party: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120307001558/http://vote.greenparty.ie/downloads/manifesto.pdf Renewing Ireland]
• Labour Party: [http://www.labour.ie/download/pdf/labour_election_manifesto_2011.pdf One Ireland - Jobs, Reform, Fairness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319055756/http://www.labour.ie/download/pdf/labour_election_manifesto_2011.pdf |date=19 March 2012 }}
• Sinn Féin: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110221172128/http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/SF_GeneralElectionManifesto2011.pdf There Is A Better Way/ Tá Bealach Níos Fearr Ann]

{{Irish elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish General Election, 2011}}

General

Category:2011 elections in the Republic of Ireland

2011

Category:31st Dáil

Category:February 2011 in Ireland