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THE WAITING IS over and the election has been called.
Just over three weeks from today, on Friday, 26 February, the country will have its say on the hundreds of politicians putting their names before them.
But what’s at stake and how does it all work? Here’s a quick guide to the 2016 Irish general election.
First things first: let’s break down the numbers.
Nearly 500 candidates are now competing for 158 Dáil seats (excluding the automatically re-elected ceann comhairle) in 40 constituencies.
The number of seats has been cut from 166 since 2011, while the number of constituencies is down from 43, meaning this election will be even more difficult to predict.
Why will some constituencies have fewer TDs this time around?
After the current government committed to reducing the number of TDs, the amending provisions of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 fixed the range for the total number of Dáil members at between 153 and 160, as compared with the current range of 164 to 168.
The constituency commission subsequently decided in 2012 that 158 seats was the most appropriate number to meet the ratio of deputies to population required by the constitution.
As a result, there are now 13 three-seat constituencies, down from 17 since the last election; 16 four-seaters, up from 15; and 11 five-seaters, unchanged since 2011. Eleven constituencies will keep the same number of TDs.
What we can we expect from the election debates?
RTÉ will be holding its main election debate between Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin a few days before the election.
Before that, the Claire Byrne Live programme is hosting a seven-way leaders debate at the University of Limerick on 15 February.
As well as the aforementioned foursome, it will include representatives from Renua, the Social Democrats and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit partnership.
Exact details of both debates are yet to be confirmed. There has been some speculation that Kenny and Burton are unhappy with the prominence given to the leaders of smaller parties.
The Green Party and the Independent Alliance, which is not a party, have also registered complaints over their exclusion from the RTÉ debates.
TV3 is expected to announce its election coverage plans later today.
Who runs the country during the election?
Ministers retain their roles: the taoiseach is still the taoiseach, and the cabinet can meet if needed. During the 2011 general election, for example, a fatal crash at Cork Airport required the then transport minister Pat Carey to perform his ministerial duties.
What happens to TDs?
For TDs, the position is less clear. The Dáil is dissolved and no longer exists, but outgoing TDs can still technically refer to themselves as deputies in election literature and on posters.
This situation contrasts with that in the UK, where outgoing MPs are even banned from referring to themselves as such in their Twitter usernames after an election is called.
Who can vote in the election?
Any Irish or British citizen who has been resident here since 1 September 2015 is eligible. Young people who have turned 18 by the polling day can also vote.
Can I still register to vote?
Yes. Now that the election has been called, you can apply to be included in a supplement to the register with the RFA2 form, which has to be received by your local council at least 15 working days before polling day.
Registered voters with new addresses can also apply for the supplement with the RFA3 form, which removes you from the register for your previous address.
Am I already registered?
The easiest way to check is to visit www.checktheregister.ie and choose your local council from the drop-down list. From there, you can enter your details and make sure you’re registered at your current address.
We’ll have another explainer on the voting system closer to polling day.
- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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It will be very interesting to see if Enda and Joan face a likely debate with Vincent Browne on TV3 and some real, tough questions. Government ministers have been afraid to face Vincent and their electorate on the live debates for a long time now.
Pretty sure Vinny B is off air for this campaign due to ill health. Think i saw something here on Monday.
Ah that’s a shame, Mick Clifford isn’t too bad but he’s not Vincent.
Dave, kenny and burton have already threatened to pull out of a major debate if, shock horror, other party leaders are given equal talking time to them.
Would love to see Gorry explain to us why he wants to keep the USC.
He’s had 5 years to brush up on his shambolic performances on the economy…
Hope he’s been practicing…. not just trampolining and taking selfies….
Sinn Feins finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, explaining the partys USC stance
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1615368.ece
“Pearse Doherty, Sinn Fein’s finance spokesman, said getting rid of the tax would mostly benefit high-income earners. “The USC is the only charge that captures all of your income, and people can’t get around it with clever accounting,” he said.
“Anyone who says they’re going to get rid of the USC is also saying they’re willing to forgo €4bn in tax income…..We are in favour of taking more people out of the USC at the bottom end, and there may be an argument for integrating it into a different form of tax, but getting rid of it? No.”
This is very disappointing news about VinB. It won’t be the same without him. Next best would be Colette Browne or Sarah McInerney.
“Vote Fianna Fáil – We are hardly going to füück the country up twice!” #realcampaignslogans
Tick Tock, it’s time to vote for SF. There is a bollot paper left under your car. We know where you live and we’ll be back later to canvas for you vote.
Here we go again, more promises, more lies and no real gains
More importantly Mark, no reforms either.
Frogmarched into TTIP.
Vote early and vote often
RTEs debate lineup is pathetic. There are more than the 4 ‘civil war parties’ in modern Irish politics.
Exactly and Enda and Joan will probably be molly coddled by RTE like they usually are.
Is there any one worth voting for at this stage!
I’m looking forward to the day before the election when nobody can report on it, kinds of like Good Friday for journalists.
Soc Dems
RTE is not a independent organisation to hold any debate. It amazing when TV3 setup independent debates this goverment failed to appear in front of the people. Now the privileged few will create the questions and answers that we are all asking. Showbiz baby and that a compliment.
With this Election, the first thing that needs to be acknowledged is all the “old rules” are mostly out the window. Groups that normally didn’t vote will be out in huge numbers, they have become politicized these last 5 years. Students are registered like never before, and were clever enough to register where they knew they would be most likely to vote. And a LOT of the “grey vote” are not happy at all with FG and FF after Years of attacks on their pensions and allowances/entitlements. It will be an election that will cause quiet a number of shifts in the same-old same-old revolving chair of FG/FF dominance. Their dominance of the political shere in Ireland is diminishing.
Correct willr, the one common thread I’ve noticed at the anti water charge protests are people remarking about how they never voted or had no interest in politics, but were making it their business to vote from now on.
Water is the red line issue.
Tommy… Every political party says a lot during elections. After elections it’s all about bums on Cabinet Seats. Any party will do a deal with any other party if it means Cabinet Seats. Only total fools would think otherwise. Politicians say a LOT in elections and 90% of what’s said is empty words. After elections it’s ALL about Cabinet Seats. So they will do a deal with any party to get them.
nobody will work with SF as they have all unequivocally stated so voting SF is literally pointless
Dane you believe SF is irrelevant but yet you comment about SF every chance you get.Strange.
At the very least will be the biggest opposition party so I wouldn’t say it’s pointless, obviously has a lot of people worried that they can’t stop talking about them…
Voting SF/IRA or the anti everything parties is pointless, kind of like the people who would vote for them
Moderate it must sicken you that people with a different opinion from you have a vote. ; )
Not to pee on your chips but if voting for people who will end up in opposition is pointless then voting for what will be the government is just as pointless. Anyhoop we vote for people not parties
How very democratic of you moderate, criticising people who are using their democratic right to vote for any particular party they choose to.
Vote for whatever idiot you like. I’m just hear to laugh at your butthurt when they get nowhere
“Moderate Michael” hasn’t a clue what the word ‘moderate’ means.
Laughing? Lol funny that you don’t even know who I’m voting for.
Moderate I live in an area that has only 3 seats.There is 2 incumbent Independents both whom will be returned.The final seat is between FF/FG and Labour. FG haven’t a hope because of the lies Kenny told and then denied he lied but he was caught out.Voice recording a terrible thing.Labour no hope so sadly probably the FF clown.
Voting in this election is like choosing whether you get hanged , electrocuted or face the firing squad.
How can an British citizens vote in an Irish election
So the lobotomy went well…
If they reside in Ireland they can. Just like Irish people residing in the UK can vote in theirs. It’s a mutual agreement.
All this sh*te the next couple of weeks is like people’s opinion on weather were never happy when it’s cold or warm,therefore were never going to be happy who gets into government regardless because let’s face it politician’s are really only there for the pensions because all do f**k all and let the highly paid advisers do the work. So let the migraines begin.
have your say