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Dublin South East Dáil Éireann constituency

Location of Dublin South–East within County Dublin

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 (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).

History and boundaries[]

The constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 and first used at the 1948 general election. It includes areas such as Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Harolds Cross, Sandymount, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Ringsend and the central business district of the city (including Trinity College, Dublin and St Stephen's Green).

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defines the constituency as:

"In the city of Dublin the electoral divisions of:
Mansion House A, Mansion House B, Pembroke East A, Pembroke East B, Pembroke East C, Pembroke East D, Pembroke East E, Pembroke West A, Pembroke West B, Pembroke West C, Rathfarnham, Rathmines East A, Rathmines East B, Rathmines East C, Rathmines East D, Rathmines West A, Rathmines West B, Rathmines West C, Rathmines West D, Rathmines West E, Rathmines West F, Royal Exchange A, Royal Exchange B, St. Kevin's, South Dock, Wood Quay A, Wood Quay B."

Constituency profile[]

By geographical size, Dublin South–East is the smallest constituency in the country. It has a diverse socio-economic profile and a large transient population which is partly reflected in the turnout, having one of the lowest turnouts in the country in 2007 and in 2011.

Notable Dublin South–East TD's include former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, the former leader of the Progressive Democrats Michael McDowell, maverick left wing politician Noël Browne and current Minister of Education Ruairi Quinn (who has the distinction of being its longest-serving, first elected in 1977 and continuously elected since February 1982). The former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese unsuccessfully contested the constituency for Fianna Fail in 1987.

Between 2002 and 2007 the constituency was unusual in that all 6 of the main political parties at the time in Ireland (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Progressive Democrats, Labour, Green Party and Sinn Féin) were well-organised, and were contenders for winning a seat.

The 'Rumble in Ranelagh' is a term used by Irish journalists to describe an open argument that took place between candidates Michael McDowel and John Gormley in Ranelagh, while canvassing in the 2007 general election. Gormley twice defeated McDowell to take the last seat, in 1997 and again in 2007, both times by relatively small margins. The 1997 result led to a mammoth recount, the longest in Irish political history, before McDowell conceded defeat.

The 2011 election saw John Gormley and Fianna Fail's Chris Andrews lose their seats with gains for both Fine Gael and the Labour Party. It was one of five constituencies in the country to elect solely Fine Gael and Labour Party TDs (the others were Cork South–West, Dublin Mid–West, Dublin North–East and Meath East).

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