The Dáil voted to nominate Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin as Taoiseach on Saturday, June 27, heralding the formation of a coalition Government featuring Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.
Combined, the three parties have 84 seats in the Dáil (not including Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl). A spattering of independents also chose to back Martin’s nomination, with a total of 93 TDs voting ‘Tá’.
However, 63 TDs voted ‘Níl’, including many rural independents. So, how did each rural TD vote on Saturday?
Regional Group
There are currently 19 independent TDs in the Dáil and, to ensure they get speaking time in the chamber, they have organised themselves into ‘technical groups’.
The largest of these is the Regional Group, comprising eight independent TDs, as well Peadar Tóibín, the only representative in the Dáil for Aontú (a party he founded himself after departing from Sinn Féin).
Among the most prominent rural TDs in this group are included: Galway East’s Seán Canney (voted Níl); Galway West’s Noel Grealish (voted Tá); Tipperary’s Michael Lowry (voted Tá); Roscommon-Galway’s Denis Naughten (abstained); and Meath West’s Tóibín (voted Níl).
The full list of independents in the Regional Group is as follows:
- Cathal Berry (Kildare South) – voted Tá;
- Seán Canney (Galway East) – voted Níl;
- Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth) – voted Tá;
- Noel Grealish (Galway West) – voted Tá;
- Michael Lowry (Tipperary) – voted Tá;
- Verona Murphy (Wexford) – voted Tá;
- Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway) – abstained;
- Matt Shanahan (Waterford) – voted Tá;
- Peadar Tóibín (Meath West) – voted Níl.
Rural group
As one might guess from the name, the Rural Group devotes quite a bit of concern to rural issues.
There are, at present, six independent TDs in this group. Only one of these backed the nomination of Martin as Taoiseach, while two abstained.
The members of this group are: Cork South-West’s Michael Collins (voted Níl); Kerry’s Danny Healy-Rae (voted Níl); Kerry’s Michael Healy-Rae (voted Níl); Tipperary’s Mattie McGrath (abstained); Laois-Offaly’s Carol Nolan (abstained); and Limerick County’s Richard O’Donoghue (voted Tá).
Independent group
The third technical group is simply known as the Independent Group. It includes five TD’s who are recognised as independents, as well as Dublin South-Central TD Joan Collins, who is the only member in the Dáil for the Right to Change party (like Aontú’s Tóibín, this is a party founded by Collins herself).
Probably the most prominent TD in this group is Roscommon-Galway’s Michael Fitzmaurice (voted Níl).
Apart from Fitzmaurice, the group also includes Sligo-Leitrim’s Marian Harkin (voted Tá); and Clare’s Michael McNamara (voted Tá).
The full list of TDs in the Independent Group is as follows:
- Catherine Connolly (Galway West) – voted Níl;
- Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway) – voted Níl;
- Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim) – voted Tá;
- Michael McNamara (Clare) – voted Tá;
- Thomas Pringle (Donegal) – voted Níl;
- Joan Collins (Dublin South-Central) – voted Níl.
So, of the 19 independent TDs (not including Aontú’s Tóibín and Right to Change’s Collins), nine voted in favour of Martin’s nomination as Taoiseach; seven voted against Martin; and three decided to abstain from voting.