Labour Party sources remain adamant that the party will legally challenge the Seanad results if any of its candidates fails to win a seat by a narrow margin. However, experienced activists from all parties were sceptical the move would succeed.
This follows the revelation on Wednesday that seven envelopes containing 35 votes from Fingal County Council in north Dublin had the traditional pink seal on the inner envelope, rather than on the outer covering envelope as required under the regulations governing Seanad elections. It is understood that five envelopes contained the votes of Labour Party councillors and the other two the votes of Fine Gael councillors.
When the Seanad returning officer, Ms Deirdre Lane, announced the rejection of the envelopes on Wednesday, having taken legal advice, the Labour general secretary, Mr Ray Kavanagh, lodged a formal objection, indicating that his party reserved the right to ask the High Court to rule that the excluded ballots be reinstated. His objection was supported by Mr Maurice Manning, a former Leader of the House.
