Social Democrats in line to have more Dáil speaking time after election win

THE WIN FOR the Social Democrats in Dublin Central byelection will also have ramifications for the party when it’s in the Dáil, as it will now allow them more speaking time.

Daniel Ennis claimed the seat available in the capital on Saturday, finishing comfortably ahead of Sinn Féin and the Greens.

He will take the seat vacated by former finance minister Paschal Donohoe.

But the additional Social Democrat in the 34th Dáil means that Holly Cairns’s party now has 12 TDs, giving it an edge over its rivals on the left in Labour.

The November 2024 general election saw both parties return to the Dáil with 11 TDs a piece but this weekend’s result means the party will have more speaking time now during Dáil sittings.

Dáil speaking time works on the simple metric that the larger a party, the more time it gets to speak in the Dáil.

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Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore said the Social Democrats will now switch places with Labour and speak ahead of Ivana Bacik’s party.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin programme, Whitmore said that the result does matter as she contended that it is a sign of the party “really building momentum”.

Formed in 2015, the party has gradually increased its representation at each general election since.

“We are a really credible alternative to the government, and I think we’re starting to see that reflected,” Whitmore said.

This sentiment was echoed by party leader Cairns in a statement this morning, as she hailed the “stunning” win for Ennis and promised to stand a candidate in every constituency at the next election.

“When I first stepped into the role of leader of the Social Democrats, I said I was unashamedly ambitious for the future of this party. Since then, as we have gone from election to election, the party has gone strength to strength,” Cairns said.

“I am determined to continue to build on the huge momentum we are seeing in the Social Democrats and run a candidate in every constituency in the next general election.”

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