AS NOMINATIONS closed for the general election, the number of Independents seeking a Dáil seat had more than doubled compared to 2007 and Fianna Fáil was nominating 30 fewer candidates than last time.
However, Fine Gael is putting forward 104 contenders compared to 91 in the last general election and the Labour Party has also increased its candidate list from 50 to 68.
Fianna Fáil nominated 106 candidates in the 2007 general election but this time around the party is putting forward only 76 names, including that of Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk who is automatically re-elected.
With 165 vacancies in the 31st Dáil, Fianna Fáil is not putting forward enough candidates to achieve an overall majority. The party has been in government without a majority for most of the last 30 years.
The fluidity of the political situation is reflected in the remarkable increase in Independent candidates, from 90 in 2007 up to 202 on this occasion, including supporters of parties which are not officially registered as yet.
A total of 470 candidates stood in 2007 and the number has now gone up to 567, thanks largely to the greater number of Independents.
Just 85 women are standing. This represents 15 per cent of the overall field of candidates.
The Green Party has 43 candidates, one fewer than in 2007. There are 41 Sinn Féin contenders, the same number as last time.
Among the smaller parties which are registered but were not part of the outgoing Dáil, the Workers’ Party is running six candidates, the United Left Alliance (combining three registered parties) is running 19 and Christian Solidarity is running eight.
Candidates at a Dáil election not in possession of a certificate of political affiliation must provide statutory declarations by 30 assentors to the nomination who are registered as Dáil electors in the relevant constituency.
Alternatively, the candidate, or someone on his or her behalf, may lodge a deposit of €500 with the returning officer.
Election expenses up to a maximum of €8,700 are reimbursed from the exchequer to a candidate who is elected or an unsuccessful candidate who is not elected but the greatest number of votes credited to him or her exceeds a quarter of the quota of votes necessary for election.
Numbers of candidates nominated in 2002 were as follows: FF 106; FG 85; Lab 46; GP 31; SF 37; Non-Party 95; Socialist Party 5; Socialist Workers’ Party 7; CC/CS 23; WP 8.
Numbers of candidates nominated in 1997 were as follows: FF 112; FG 90; Lab 44; Non-Party 103; GP 26; SF 15; National Party 16; CC/CS 8; SP 5; Natural Law 10; WP 7; South Kerry Independent Alliance 1; SWP 4.