1981 Irish general election

1981 Irish general election

← 1977 11 June 1981 Feb 1982 →

166 seats in Dáil Éireann[a]
84 seats needed for a majority
Turnout76.2% Decrease 0.1pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg
Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg
Labour
Leader Charles Haughey Garret FitzGerald Frank Cluskey
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour
Leader since 7 December 1979 1977 1977
Leader's seat Dublin North-Central Dublin South-East Dublin South-Central
(defeated)
Last election 84 seats, 50.6% 43 seats, 30.5% 17 seats, 11.6%
Seats won 78 65 15
Seat change Decrease 6 Increase 22 Decrease 2
Percentage 45.3% 36.5% 9.9%
Swing Decrease 5.3% Increase 6.0% Decrease 1.7%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
AHB
MacGiolla cropped.jpg
SLP
Leader Anti H-Block Committee Tomás Mac Giolla Noël Browne
Party Anti H-Block Sinn Féin The Workers' Party Socialist Labour
Leader since N/A 1977 1981
Leader's seat N/A N/A Dublin North-Central
Last election New 0 seats, 1.7% New
Seats won 2 1 1
Seat change New Increase 1 New
Percentage 2.5% 1.7% 0.4%
Swing New Steady New


Taoiseach before election

Charles Haughey
Fianna Fáil

Taoiseach after election

Garret FitzGerald
Fine Gael

The 1981 Irish general election to the 22nd Dáil was held on Thursday, 11 June, following the dissolution of the 21st Dáil on 21 May by President Patrick Hillery on the request of Taoiseach Charles Haughey. 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 number of seats in the Dáil was increased by 18 from 148 under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980.

The 22nd Dáil met at Leinster House on 30 June 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 17th government of Ireland, a minority coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

  1. ^ Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1980, s. 1: Amendment of section 14 of Electoral Act 1963 (No. 40 of 1980, s. 1). Enacted on 23 December 1980. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  2. ^ "22nd Dáil 1981: Louth". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 9 August 2022.


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