Seanad elections: Sitting NUI senators certain to be returned; Greens split Trinity vote
Former justice minister Michael McDowell SC becomes first member elected to 27th Seanad
The only question is how many counts it takes before Michael McDowell – elected at midnight on the first count – is joined by outgoing Senators Ronán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins, the President’s daughter.
The quota is just over 9,000 votes. By the second count Mr Mullen had 8,175 votes and Ms Higgins 7,350.
Nearest challenger Eva Dowling had 3,413, in other words nearly 3,000 votes in arrears – an unbridgeable gap.
Another contender, Ronán Collins, was similarly struggling on 2,972 votes, with five others effectively nowhere and one of them eliminated for court three.
At the Trinity count, it appears former Cabinet minister Katherine Zappone is unlikely to get elected, while former minister Ossian Smyth and Hazel Chu have split the Green vote between them.
Latest from the Trinity College Dublin constituency (3 seats, none yet filled):
Quota 4,450. Eighth count:
* Denotes sitting Senator
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