Fianna Fáil has “real problems” in certain constituencies, the Taoiseach has conceded, following a poor showing in the Dublin Central by-election where the party’s candidate lost his deposit.
Fianna Fáil’s Dublin Central candidate John Stephens was eliminated from the race after count two, with party leader Micheál Martin describing it as a “poor result,” reports Breaking News.
He said the result was “on a par” with the 2021 Dublin Bay South by-election, where the party had gone on to retain a seat in the constituency at the 2024 general election.
“It is a poor result, no question about that,” he said, adding that the party had “difficulties in that particular constituency,” reports Breaking News.
In Galway West, Fianna Fáil’s candidate Cillian Keane received 8.9% of first preference votes according to an unofficial tally. Speaking at Galway Lawn Tennis Club, Martin said the party would “examine” and “reflect” on the by-election results, adding: “We would have preferred a higher percentage outcome.”
Fianna Fáil’s director of elections, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien, said he would not “sugarcoat” the result in Dublin Central and admitted the party was “disappointed,” but noted that the frontrunners in that race had gained profile in the previous general election, reports Breaking News.
He added: “It’s obviously a difficult constituency for us — it’s one of only three in the country that we didn’t win in the last general election.
We were coming from a low base. There is hope in the future here,” reports Breaking News.
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