1994 European Parliament election in Ireland

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15 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout	43.9%
First party Second party Third party   Green Leader Albert Reynolds John Bruton None Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Green Alliance EDA EPP Green Group Leader since 6 February 1992 20 November 1990 6 November 2001 Last election 31.5%,  6 seats 21.6%,  4 seats 7.9%,  2 seats Seats won 7 / 15 4 / 15 2 / 15 Seat change 1 2 0 Popular vote 398,066 276,095 90,046 Percentage 35% 24.3% 7.9% Swing 3.5% 2.7% 4.2%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Dick Spring Mary Harney Proinsias De Rossa Party Labour Progressive Democrats Democratic Left Alliance PES ELDR Leader since 1 November 1982 12 October 1993 1992 Last election 9.5%,  1 seats 12.0%,  1 seats New Seats won 1 / 15 0 / 15 0 / 15 Seat change 0 1 New Popular vote 124,972 73,696 39,706 Percentage 11.0 % 6.5 % 3.5% Swing 1.5% 5.5% New   Seventh party Eighth party   Workers' Leader Gerry Adams Marian Donnelly Party Sinn Féin Workers' Party Alliance NI Leader since 13 November 1983 11 November 1988 Last election 2.2%,  0 seats 7.7%,  1 seats Seats won 0 / 15 0 / 15 Seat change 1 Popular vote 33,823 22,100 Percentage 3.0% 1.9% Swing 0.8% 5.8%

The 1994 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1994 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote. Local elections were held on the same day for borough councils, urban district councils and town commissioners.

Campaign

In 1992, a general election in Ireland led to the Labour Party's best results to date, paving the way for Dick Spring to lead his party into coalition with Fianna Fáil. The 1994 local and European elections were seen in some quarters as a mid-term report on that coalition's performance. The strong result by the Green Party in particular was interpreted as a warning that left-leaning middle class voters were moving away from Labour.^[1]

The election was notable for how some parties ran "parachute candidates" (like Orla Guerin for Labour) who did not resonate with voters as well as incumbent, grassroots campaigners.^[2]

The popularity of President Mary Robinson led to parties presenting more female candidates than usual, four of whom became MEPs on this occasion.^[3]

Results

Elections to the European Parliament in Ireland – 1994

Party		European party	Party Leader	1st Pref Vote	%	±%	Seats	±
	Fianna Fáil	EDA	Albert Reynolds	398,066	35.0	+3.5	7	1
	Fine Gael	EPP	John Bruton	276,095	24.3	+2.7	4
	Green Party	Green Group	none	90,046	7.9	+4.2	2	2
	Labour Party	PES	Dick Spring	124,972	11.0	+1.5	1
	Progressive Democrats	ELDR	Mary Harney	73,696	6.5	−5.5	0	1
	Democratic Left		Proinsias De Rossa	39,706	3.5	+3.5	0	New
	Sinn Féin		Gerry Adams	33,823	3.0	+0.8	0
	Workers' Party		Marian Donnelly	22,100	1.9	−5.8	0	1
	Independent			78,986	6.9	−1.7	1
Total				1,137,490	100	—	15

MEPs elected

Voting details