Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974
Encyclopedia
The Electoral Act 1974 was a review of parliamentary constituencies
passed in the Republic of Ireland
by the governing Fine Gael
–Labour Party
National Coalition
. It was intended to secure their re-election, but instead backfired disastrously resulting in a landslide victory for their main opponents in Fianna Fáil
. Consequently the word Tullymander - combining the name of the minister James Tully with the word "gerrymander
" - was coined.
, by creating a number of three member constituencies, it was hoped to capitalise on the relative weakness of the main opposition party Fianna Fáil in the capital. The hope was that both Fine Gael and Labour would win one seat each, leaving Fianna Fáil with a solitary seat. This plan however relied on the Fianna Fáil vote remaining below the 40% mark in the Dublin area. In the event of it passing that figure, the danger was that Fianna Fáil could win two seats in each constituency. In practice, this is exactly what happened at the 1977 general election
.
A minor aspect of the constituency redrawing concerned the boundary of the constituencies of Meath and Louth
. The Meath constituency had seen a population boom in the 1970s, as a result of improved economic performance. Therefore an extra seat was to be expected. Tully himself was resident in Laytown
at the time, and he tried to align the boundary of the Meath constituency so as to get extra votes from nearby expanding Drogheda
included in Meath, and thereby bring in a second Labour TD in Meath.
The failure of the scheme led to the creation of an independent boundary commission to supervise future boundary revisions. This independent commission is still in charge of constituency definition. However, due to the often tight nature of Irish election results, its activities are always closely monitored by political activists and the general public alike.
Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland
The lower house of the Oireachtas , Dáil Éireann, contains 166 Teachtaí Dála , representing 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Republic of Ireland. Depending on its size, each constituency must have at least 3 members and a maximum of five members. The most recent ratio indicates that...
passed in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
by the governing Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
–Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
National Coalition
Government of the 20th Dáil
The 20th Dáil was elected at the 1973 general election on 28 February 1973 and first met on 14 March when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed...
. It was intended to secure their re-election, but instead backfired disastrously resulting in a landslide victory for their main opponents in Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
. Consequently the word Tullymander - combining the name of the minister James Tully with the word "gerrymander
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
" - was coined.
Background
With the responsibility for drawing political boundaries in the hands of the political parties, this responsibility had often been used for partisan advantage until the 1970s. The local government minister James Tully's scheme proved to be more ambitious than most. By radically redrawing the boundaries in the Greater Dublin areaGreater Dublin Area
Greater Dublin Area , or simply Greater Dublin, is a term which is used to describe the city of Dublin and various counties in the hinterland of the city in Ireland. The term has no basis in law and no local government, department of government or agency of the state is bound by the term...
, by creating a number of three member constituencies, it was hoped to capitalise on the relative weakness of the main opposition party Fianna Fáil in the capital. The hope was that both Fine Gael and Labour would win one seat each, leaving Fianna Fáil with a solitary seat. This plan however relied on the Fianna Fáil vote remaining below the 40% mark in the Dublin area. In the event of it passing that figure, the danger was that Fianna Fáil could win two seats in each constituency. In practice, this is exactly what happened at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
.
A minor aspect of the constituency redrawing concerned the boundary of the constituencies of Meath and Louth
Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
. The Meath constituency had seen a population boom in the 1970s, as a result of improved economic performance. Therefore an extra seat was to be expected. Tully himself was resident in Laytown
Laytown
Laytown is a village on the R150 regional road on the Irish Sea coast of County Meath, Ireland. Historically it was called Ninch , after the townland it occupies...
at the time, and he tried to align the boundary of the Meath constituency so as to get extra votes from nearby expanding Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
included in Meath, and thereby bring in a second Labour TD in Meath.
The failure of the scheme led to the creation of an independent boundary commission to supervise future boundary revisions. This independent commission is still in charge of constituency definition. However, due to the often tight nature of Irish election results, its activities are always closely monitored by political activists and the general public alike.
Summary table of boundary changes
| 1973 Constituency | Number of members | 1977 constituency | Number of members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow–Kilkenny Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency) Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
5 | Carlow–Kilkenny Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency) Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
5 |
| Cavan Cavan (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cavan was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1977. The method of election was the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History :... |
3 | Cavan–Monaghan Cavan–Monaghan (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cavan–Monaghan is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
5 |
| Monaghan Monaghan (Dáil Éireann constituency) Monaghan was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1977. The constituency elected 3 deputies to the Dáil, using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History :The constituency was... |
3 | ||
| Clare | 3 | Clare | 3 |
| Clare–Galway South | 3 | Galway East | 4 |
| Galway North East Galway North East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Galway North–East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1977... |
3 | ||
| Galway West | 3 | Galway West | 4 |
| Cork Mid Cork Mid (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork Mid was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency was served by 4 deputies from 1961 to 1977, and then 5 from 1977 until its abolition in 1981... |
4 | Cork Mid Cork Mid (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork Mid was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency was served by 4 deputies from 1961 to 1977, and then 5 from 1977 until its abolition in 1981... |
5 |
| Cork City North West Cork City North West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork City North–West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1977... |
3 | Cork City Cork City (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork City was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
5 |
| Cork City South East Cork City South East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork City South–East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1977... |
3 | ||
| Cork North East Cork North East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork North–East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency elected 5 deputies to the Dáil until 1969, and then 4 thereafter... |
4 | Cork North East Cork North East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork North–East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency elected 5 deputies to the Dáil until 1969, and then 4 thereafter... |
4 |
| Cork South West Cork South West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies . The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History and boundaries :It was... |
3 | Cork South West Cork South West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Cork South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies . The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History and boundaries :It was... |
3 |
| Donegal North East Donegal North East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Donegal North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
3 | Donegal Donegal (Dáil Éireann constituency) Donegal was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1937 and from 1977 to 1981... |
5 |
| Donegal–Leitrim | 3 | ||
| Sligo–Leitrim | 3 | Sligo–Leitrim | 3 |
| Roscommon–Leitrim | 3 | Roscommon–Leitrim | 3 |
| Dublin County North Dublin County North (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County North was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin County North Dublin County North (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County North was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1981... |
4 | ||
| Dublin County West Dublin County West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County West was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin North West Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
4 | ||
| Dublin Finglas Dublin Finglas (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Finglas was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin Clontarf Dublin Clontarf (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Clontarf was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin North East Dublin North East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
4 | ||
| Dublin Artane Dublin Artane (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Artane was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin North Central Dublin North Central (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin North–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
4 | ||
| Dublin North Central Dublin North Central (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin North–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
3 | ||
| Dublin Central Dublin Central (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
4 | Dublin Cabra Dublin Cabra (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Cabra was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 |
| Dublin South Central Dublin South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
3 | ||
| Dublin South Central Dublin South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
4 | ||
| Dublin Rathmines West Dublin Rathmines West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Rathmines West was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin South West Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
4 | ||
| Dublin Ballyfermot Dublin Ballyfermot (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin Ballyfermot was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin County Mid Dublin County Mid (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County Mid was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981... |
3 | ||
| Dublin South East Dublin South East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin South–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
3 | Dublin South East Dublin South East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin South–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
3 |
| Dublin County South Dublin County South (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County South was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1981... |
3 | Dublin County South Dublin County South (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin County South was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1981... |
3 |
| Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 1977... |
4 | Dún Laoghaire Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
4 |
| Kerry North | 3 | Kerry North | 3 |
| Kerry South | 3 | Kerry South | 3 |
| Kildare Kildare (Dáil Éireann constituency) Kildare was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 1997... |
3 | Kildare Kildare (Dáil Éireann constituency) Kildare was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 1997... |
3 |
| Laois–Offaly | 5 | Laois–Offaly | 5 |
| Limerick East | 4 | Limerick East | 4 |
| Limerick West | 3 | Limerick West | 3 |
| Longford–Westmeath | 4 | Longford–Westmeath | 4 |
| Louth Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency) Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
3 | Louth Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency) Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
4 |
| Mayo East Mayo East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Mayo East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1997. The constituency was served by 3 deputies... |
3 | Mayo East Mayo East (Dáil Éireann constituency) Mayo East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1997. The constituency was served by 3 deputies... |
3 |
| Mayo West Mayo West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Mayo West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1997. The constituency was served by 3 deputies... |
3 | Mayo West Mayo West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Mayo West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1997. The constituency was served by 3 deputies... |
3 |
| Meath | 3 | Meath | 4 |
| Tipperary North | 3 | Tipperary North | 3 |
| Tipperary South Tipperary South (Dáil Éireann constituency) Tipperary South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
4 | Tipperary South Tipperary South (Dáil Éireann constituency) Tipperary South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
3 |
| Waterford Waterford (Dáil Éireann constituency) Waterford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
3 | Waterford Waterford (Dáil Éireann constituency) Waterford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
4 |
| Wexford Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency) Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
4 | Wexford Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency) Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
4 |
| Wicklow Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency) Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
3 | Wicklow Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency) Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
3 |