Clare’s Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin TDs have dismissed any suggestion of leadership changes following the by-election results.
It comes as the country’s two newest TDs take their seats in the Dáil today.
Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin were the big losers over the weekend, with Fianna Fáil recording its worst-ever by-election result, while Mary Lou McDonald’s party lost both contests despite being the main opposition force.
Today, Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne returns to the Dáil following his victory in Galway West, while Daniel Ennis takes his seat after winning in Dublin Central for the Social Democrats.
The result brings the Social Democrats to 12 TDs, making it the second-largest opposition party for the first time.
The weekend’s results suggest the protest vote in Galway shifted to the right of Sinn Féin, towards Independent Ireland, while in Dublin it moved to the left, towards the Social Democrats.
Clare’s Sinn Féin TD insists the party still performed strongly in Dublin, and says Galway simply wasn’t their day.
And Shannon Deputy Donna McGettigan says there’s no doubt about who will lead the party into the next general election.
In Dublin Central, Fianna Fáil secured just over 1,000 first-preference votes, while in Galway West the party took just 8.8 per cent of the vote.
But Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe says that while the party needs to rebuild in Dublin Central, its Galway West candidate performed well.
The Meelick Deputy says “one defeat doesn’t mean you’re out” and has defended party leader Micheál Martin, insisting he remains focused on the job ahead.
