Seanad Éireann General Election 2007

I was a candidate in the 2007 Seanad General Election on the Cultural & Educational Panel as the nominee of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. Putting forward my election platform, I stressed that my experience covered both national and local issues, including many legislative matters raised in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. I strongly believe that those seeking election to serve in the Upper House of our National Parliament should have established a track record of legislative campaigns and achievements as the work of the Seanad plays a very important role in the development and quality of our democracy. The electorate in the 2007 Seanad General Election consisted of Teachtaí Dála (MPs), out-going Senators and City and County Councillors. It was a very tightly fought election campaign where the various political party pacts were very strictly observed, the non-party candidates had an enormously difficult up-hill battle to attract the vital first preference votes in order to bring their lower preferences in to play at the count. Therefore, with 10,000 first preference senatorial votes, which was an excellent achievement given the squeeze on the independents, I was eliminated on the fifth count. It was extremely gratifying and indeed, humbling, to note the very many 2nd, 3rd, 4th and other preferences that I received from all quarters. I wish to thank all those that voted for me in the Seanad General Election and to assure all concerned that I will continue to campaign on my various legislative priorities by lobbying parliamentarians, especially, those elected to Seanad Éireann. Listed below are some of my priorities. Finally, I would like to most sincerely thank and acknowledge the very kind support and encouragement that I received from family, friends, members of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, friends in North Wales and from my own local community in Dún Laoghaire.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Michael Merrigan