1987 Irish general election

1987 Irish general election

← Nov 1982 17 February 1987 1989 →

166 seats in Dáil Éireann[a]
84 seats needed for a majority
Turnout73.3% Increase 0.4pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg
Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg
Desmond O'Malley, 1979 (election box crop).tif
Leader Charles Haughey Garret FitzGerald Desmond O'Malley
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Progressive Democrats
Leader since 7 December 1979 1977 21 December 1985
Leader's seat Dublin North-Central Dublin South-East Limerick East
Last election 75 seats, 45.2% 70 seats, 39.2% New party
Seats before 5
Seats won 81 51 14
Seat change Increase 6 Decrease 19 Increase 14
Popular vote 784,547 481,127 210,583
Percentage 44.2% 27.1% 11.9%
Swing Decrease 1.0% Decrease 12.1% New party

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Dick Spring 1995 (headshot).jpg
MacGiolla cropped.jpg
DSP
Leader Dick Spring Tomás Mac Giolla Jim Kemmy
Party Labour Workers' Party Democratic Socialist
Leader since November 1982 1977 1982
Leader's seat Kerry North Dublin West Limerick East
Last election 16 seats, 9.4% 2 seats, 3.3% 0 seats, 0.4%
Seats won 12 4 1
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 2 Increase 1
Popular vote 114,551 67,293 7,424
Percentage 6.5% 3.8% 0.4%
Swing Decrease 2.9% Increase 0.5% Steady


Taoiseach before election

Garret FitzGerald
Fine Gael

Taoiseach after election

Charles Haughey
Fianna Fáil

The 1987 Irish general election to the 25th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 17 February, four weeks after the dissolution of the 24th Dáil on 20 January by President Patrick Hillery, on the request of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald. A continuing crisis over public finance and a rejection of the budget had led to the Labour Party withdrawing from the Fine Gael–led coalition government. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas. There were minor amendments to constituency boundaries under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983.

The 25th Dáil met at Leinster House on 10 March to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Charles Haughey was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 20th government of Ireland, a minority single-party Fianna Fáil government.

  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. ^ "25th Dáil 1987: Cavan–Monaghan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 10 August 2022.


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