The November 1982 Irish general election to the 24th Dáil was held on Wednesday, 24 November, three weeks after the dissolution of the 23rd Dáil on 4 November by President Patrick Hillery, on the request of Taoiseach Charles Haughey following a defeat of the government in a motion of confidence. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.

The 24th Dáil met at Leinster House on 14 December to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Garret FitzGerald was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 19th government of Ireland, a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

Campaign The second general election of 1982 took place just nine months after the election in February of the same year. It was the first time there had been three general elections within eighteen months.

The general election was caused by the loss of support of the Independent TD Tony Gregory and the Workers' Party for the Fianna Fáil government. This was due to the government introducing substantial budget cuts, which the left-wing TDs would not support. While economic issues dominated the campaign, the parties were weary of having to fight yet another general election.

Result

Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (7,997 votes, 1 seat).

Voting summary

Seats summary

Government formation Fine Gael and the Labour Party formed the 19th government of Ireland, a majority coalition.

Fine Gael won 39.2% of the vote, the highest ever in its history. It also recorded its best election result until 2011, coming within five seats of Fianna Fáil; at other times (such as 1977) Fianna Fáil had been twice as big as Fine Gael. The Labour Party had a new leader with Dick Spring. A programme for government was quickly drawn up and Garret FitzGerald of Fine Gael became Taoiseach for the second time. The poor showing for Fianna Fáil resulted in a leadership challenge to Charles Haughey by his opponents within the party. Haughey won the vote of confidence and remained as leader.

Dáil membership changes The following changes took place as a result of the election: 5 outgoing TDs retired 1 vacant seat at election time 159 outgoing TDs stood for re-election (also John O'Connell, the outgoing Ceann Comhairle who was automatically returned) 138 of those were re-elected 21 failed to be re-elected 27 successor TDs were elected 18 were elected for the first time 9 had previously been TDs There were 6 successor female TDs, increasing the total by 6 to 14. There were changes in 22 of the 41 constituencies contested

Where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only. Constituency Departing TD Party Change Comment Successor TD Party Carlow–Kilkenny Jim Gibbons Fianna FáilLost seat M. J. Nolan Fianna FáilDesmond Governey Fine Gael RetiredDick Dowling Fine GaelCavan–Monaghan No membership changesClareBill Loughnane Fianna FáilVacantTaylor-Quinn: Former TD Madeleine Taylor-Quinn Fine Gael Cork EastJoe Sherlock Workers' PartyLost seat Ned O'Keeffe Fianna FáilSeán French Fianna FáilLost seatDan Wallace Fianna FáilCork North-Central No membership changesCork North-WestThomas Meaney Fianna FáilRetiredDonal Moynihan Fianna FáilCork South-CentralJim Corr Fine GaelRetiredCoveney: Former TD Hugh Coveney Fine GaelCork South-West No membership changesDonegal North-East No membership changesDonegal South-West No membership changesDublin CentralMichael O'Leary Fine GaelMovedO'Leary moved to Dublin Central, Glenn: Former TD Alice Glenn Fine GaelDublin North No membership changesDublin North-Central No membership changesDublin North-EastNed Brennan Fianna FáilLost seatFitzgerald: Former TD Liam Fitzgerald Fianna FáilDublin North-West No membership changesDublin South No membership changesDublin South-CentralTom Fitzpatrick Fianna FáilLost seatO'Brien: Former TD Fergus O'Brien Fine GaelDublin South-EastAlexis Fitzgerald Fine GaelLost seatJoe Doyle Fine GaelDublin South-WestLarry McMahon Fine GaelLost seatMichael O'Leary Fine Gael Dublin WestBrian Fleming Fine GaelLost seatTomas Mac Giolla Workers' PartyLiam Lawlor Fianna FáilLost seatLemass: Former TD Eileen Lemass Fianna FáilDún LaoghaireMartin O'Donoghue Fianna FáilLost seatMonica Barnes Fine GaelGalway East No membership changesGalway WestMichael D. Higgins Labour PartyLost seatFintan Coogan Jnr Fine GaelKerry North No membership changesKerry South No membership changesKildareGerry Brady Fianna FáilLost seat Durkan: Former TD Bernard Durkan Fine GaelLaois–Offaly No membership changesLimerick EastJim Kemmy Democratic Socialist PartyLost seatFrank Prendergast Labour PartyLimerick West No membership changesLongford–WestmeathSeán Keegan Fianna FáilLost seatMary O'Rourke Fianna Fáil LouthThomas Bellew Fianna FáilLost seatMichael Bell Labour PartyEddie Filgate Fianna FáilRetiredSéamus Kirk Fianna FáilBernard Markey Fine GaelLost seatBrendan McGahon Fine GaelMayo East No membership changesMayo West No membership changesMeathMichael Lynch Fianna FáilLost seat Frank McLoughlin Labour PartyRoscommon No membership changesSligo–LeitrimJohn Ellis Fianna FáilLost seatMcCartin: Former TD Joe McCartin Fine GaelTipperary North No membership changesTipperary South No membership changesWaterfordPatrick Gallagher Workers' PartyLost seatDonal Ormonde Fianna Fáil WexfordLorcan Allen Fianna FáilLost seat Avril Doyle Fine GaelSeán Browne Fianna FáilRetired John Browne Fianna FáilWicklowCiarán Murphy Fianna FáilLost seatBrennan: Former TD Paudge Brennan Fianna Fáil

Seanad election The Dáil election was followed in early 1983 by an election to the 17th Seanad.

Notes

References

External links November 1982 election: Party leaders' debate RTÉ archives

Further reading