# 2024 European Parliament election in Ireland

The 2024 European Parliament election in Ireland is the Irish component of the 2024 European Parliament election and was held on Friday, 7 June 2024, the same day as the Irish local elections and Limerick mayoral election.

## Electoral system

Members of the European Parliament for Ireland :
| 1st delegation | (1973) |
| 2nd delegation | (1973–1977) |
| 3rd delegation | (1977–1979) |
| 1st term | (1979) |
| 2nd term | (1984) |
| 3rd term | (1989) |
| 4th term | (1994) |
| 5th term | (1999) |
| 6th term | (2004) |
| 7th term | (2009) |
| 8th term | (2014) |
| 9th term | (2019) |
| 10th term | (2024) |
Women :
vte :
Ireland is entitled to 14 MEPs in the Tenth European Parliament. They are elected on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote in three constituencies:
* Dublin (4 seats);
* Midlands–North-West (5 seats); and
* South (5 seats).
Thirteen MEPs were elected in 2019. However, the last candidate elected in Dublin and in South did not take their seats until January 2020, as part of the post-Brexit redistribution of seats. Ireland was allocated an additional seat in 2023 after a pre-election assessment of the parliament composition based on the most recent population figures. The Electoral Commission recommended this seat be given to Midlands–North-West, with the transfer of County Laois and County Offaly from Ireland South. This change was implemented by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023.

## Franchise

Irish citizens and other non-Irish EU citizens residing in the country are entitled to vote in the European elections in Ireland, provided that they are registered to vote for EU elections and that they compiled a statutory declaration issued by the local authority of their residence. Irish citizens residing abroad cannot vote for an election or referendum in Ireland. In addition, those eligible to vote must turn 18 years old by election day at the latest.

## Outgoing delegation

The table shows the detailed composition of the Irish seats at the European Parliament as of 24 January 2024.
| EP Group | EP Group | Seats | Party | Party | Seats | MEPs |
| | European People's Party | 5 / 13 | | Fine Gael | 5 | Deirdre CluneFrances FitzgeraldSeán KellyColm MarkeyMaria Walsh |
| | The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL | 4 / 13 | | Independents 4 Change | 2 | Clare DalyMick Wallace |
| | The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL | 4 / 13 | | Sinn Féin | 1 | Chris MacManus |
| | The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL | 4 / 13 | | Independents | 1 | Luke 'Ming' Flanagan |
| | Renew Europe | 2 / 13 | | Fianna Fáil | 2 | Barry AndrewsBilly Kelleher |
| | Greens–European Free Alliance | 2 / 13 | | Green Party | 2 | Ciarán CuffeGrace O'Sullivan |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 13 |

### Retiring incumbents

| Constituency | Departing MEP | Party | EP Group | First elected | Date announced |
| South | Deirdre Clune | Fine Gael | EPP | 2014 | 15 November 2023 |
| Dublin | Frances Fitzgerald | Fine Gael | EPP | 2019 | 6 November 2023 |
| Midlands–North-West | Colm Markey | Fine Gael | EPP | 2020 | 23 March 2024 |

## Campaign
### Timeline

* 5 April: Ministerial order fixing the election date made by Darragh O'Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
* 15 April: Opening of the nomination period
* 22 April: Close of the nomination period for non-Irish EU citizens
* 30 April: Close of the nomination period for Irish citizens
* 8 May: Date on which posters may be erected
* 7 June: Polling day (7 a.m.–10 p.m.)
* 9 June: Counting of votes commences

### Debates

On Monday 20 May 2024 RTÉ One's Upfront with Katie Hannon hosted a debate between eight candidates running in the Midlands-North-West constituency: Peter Casey (Ind), Barry Cowen (FF), Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (Ind), Saoirse McHugh (Ind), Chris MacManus (SF), Pauline O'Reilly (GP), Peadar Tóibín (Aon) and Maria Walsh (FG).
On Friday 30 May RTÉ One's Prime Time hosted 8 candidates from the South constituency: Lorna Bogue (Rabh), Paul Gavan (SF), Niamh Hourigan (Lab), Billy Kelleher (FF), Michael McNamara (Ind), John Mullins (FG), Grace O'Sullivan (GP) and Mick Wallace of (I4C).
On Tuesday 4 June RTÉ One's Prime Time hosted 8 candidates from the Dublin constituency: Barry Andrews (FF), Ciarán Cuffe (GP), Clare Daly (I4C), Regina Doherty (FG), Aodhán Ó Riordáin (Lab), Lynn Boylan (SF), Sinéad Gibney (SDs) and Bríd Smith (PBP–S).

## Results

| Party | Party | EP Group | EP Group | Candidates | Seats | ± | 1st pref. | FPv% | ±% |
| | Fine Gael | | EPP | 5 | 4 | 1 | 362,766 | 20.79% | 8.81% |
| | Fianna Fáil | | RE | 6 | 4 | 2 | 356,794 | 20.44% | 3.84% |
| | Sinn Féin | | The Left | 6 | 2 | 1 | 194,403 | 11.14% | 0.56% |
| | Independent Ireland | | RE | 3 | 1 | 1 | 108,685 | 6.23% | New |
| | Labour | | S&D | 3 | 1 | 1 | 58,975 | 3.38% | 0.28% |
| | Green | | Greens/EFA | 3 | 0 | 2 | 93,575 | 5.36% | 6.04% |
| | Inds. 4 Change | | The Left | 2 | 0 | 2 | 79,658 | 4.58% | 2.82% |
| | Aontú | | | 3 | 0 | New | 65,559 | 3.76% | New |
| | Social Democrats | | | 3 | 0 | | 51,571 | 2.95% | 1.75% |
| | Ireland First | | | 3 | 0 | New | 32,667 | 1.87% | New |
| | PBP–Solidarity | | | 3 | 0 | | 31,802 | 1.82% | 0.48% |
| | Irish Freedom | | | 3 | 0 | New | 29,709 | 1.7% | New |
| | National Party | | | 4 | 0 | New | 12,879 | 0.74% | New |
| | Rabharta | | | 2 | 0 | New | 11,302 | 0.65% | New |
| | The Irish People | | | 3 | 0 | New | 11,024 | 0.63% | New |
| | Independent | | | 21 | 2 | 1 | 243,861 | 13.97% | 1.73% |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,745,230 | 96.95% | |
| Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | 54,996 | 3.05% | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 1,800,226 | 100.0% | |
| Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout | 3,554,450 | 50.65% | 0.97% |
| Source: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage ||||||||||

### MEPs elected

| Constituency | Name | Party | EP group |
| Dublin | Regina Doherty | Fine Gael | EPP |
| Dublin | Barry Andrews | Fianna Fáil | RE |
| Dublin | Lynn Boylan | Sinn Féin | The Left |
| Dublin | Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Labour | S&D |
| Midlands–North-West | Luke 'Ming' Flanagan | Independent | The Left |
| Midlands–North-West | Barry Cowen | Fianna Fáil | RE |
| Midlands–North-West | Maria Walsh | Fine Gael | EPP |
| Midlands–North-West | Nina Carberry | Fine Gael | EPP |
| Midlands–North-West | Ciaran Mullooly | Independent Ireland | RE |
| South | Seán Kelly | Fine Gael | EPP |
| South | Billy Kelleher | Fianna Fáil | RE |
| South | Michael McNamara | Independent | RE |
| South | Cynthia Ní Mhurchú | Fianna Fáil | RE |
| South | Kathleen Funchion | Sinn Féin | The Left |
| Source: RTÉ News ||||||
The elected MEPs took office on 16 July. This left four vacancies in the Dáil and one vacancy in the Seanad. Another senator elected as an MEP had resigned her Seanad seat on 10 July, and was replaced by a nominee on the same day. A writ for by-elections for the vacancies in the Dáil must be moved within 6 months of that date.

## Opinion polls
### Nationwide party polling

| Last date of polling | Polling firm / Commissioner | Sample size | SF Left | FF Renew | FG EPP | GP G/EFA | Lab S&D | SD | PBP–S | Aon | II | O/I |
| 27 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/The Journal | 1,161 | 17.4 | 17.7 | 18 | 7.2 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 5 | – | 23 |
| 22 May 2024 | Red C/Business Post | 1,021 | 21 | 14 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | – | 25 |
| 15 May 2024 | Ipsos B&A/Irish Times | 1,500 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 21 |
| 7 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/The Journal | 1,633 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | – | 24 |
| 7 April 2024 | Ireland Thinks/The Journal | 1,334 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | – | 17 |
| 7 February 2024 | Ireland Thinks/The Journal | 1,255 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | – | – | 19 |
| 8 February 2020 | 2020 general election | — | 24.5 | 22.2 | 20.9 | 7.1 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | – | 13.5 |
| 24 May 2019 | 2019 EP election | — | 11.7 | 16.6 | 29.6 | 11.4 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | – | – | 24.1 |

### Candidate polling
#### Dublin

| Last date of polling | Polling firm / Commissioner | Sample size | Andrews (FF) | L. Boylan (SF) | Doherty (FG) | Ó Riordáin (Lab) | Cuffe (GP) | Smith (S–PBP) | Daly (I4C) | Gibney (SD) | N. Boylan (II) | Doolan (SF) | Considine (Aon) | Others |
| 31 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 496 | 14.1 | 11.2 | 15 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 8.3 | 4.6 | 9.2 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 12.5 |
| 15 May 2024 | Ipsos B&A/The Irish Times | 500 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| 7 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 457 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 11 |

#### Midlands–North-West

| Last date of polling | Polling firm / Commissioner | Sample size | Flanagan (Ind) | Walsh (FG) | Cowen (FF) | Chambers (FF) | Carberry (FG) | Gildernew (SF) | Mullooly (II) | MacManus (SF) | Blaney (FF) | Casey (Ind) | Tóibín (Aon) | Others |
| 31 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 614 | 12.1 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 5.3 | 7 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 7.5 | 20.5 |
| 15 May 2024 | Ipsos B&A/The Irish Times | 500 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 17 |
| 7 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 631 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 21 |

#### South

| Last date of polling | Polling firm / Commissioner | Sample size | Kelly (FG) | Kelleher (FF) | Funchion (SF) | Ní Mhurchú (FF) | Gavan (SF) | Hourigan (Lab) | McNamara (Ind) | Mullins (FG) | Blighe (IF) | O'Sullivan (GP) | Wallace (I4C) | Doyle (SD) | Others |
| 31 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 660 | 18.5 | 14.4 | 9.5 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 9.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 10.5 |
| 15 May 2024 | Ipsos B&A/The Irish Times | 500 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 May 2024 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent | 643 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 |