Seanad Election Sees New Party Senators Elected

Conor Murphy from Sinn Féin has won a seat in the Seanad, marking his transition from Stormont to the Oireachtas with a focus on advocating for Irish unification. The Seanad elections have seen various panels filled, including industrial, cultural, and educational, with representatives from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Labour, and independents securing positions. The Social Democrats have their first senator, Patricia Stephenson, elected, and Aontú has secured its first senator, Sarah O’Reilly. The elections operate within a closed system where only certain electors, such as university graduates from the National University of Ireland and Trinity College, can vote. Vote counting continues for the remaining panels, and the Taoiseach will appoint 11 additional senators to complete the Seanad. This marks the last time voting is restricted to just NUI and Trinity graduates, with future elections opening to all third-level graduates.