Former Fine Gael TD Mr Jim Higgins returned to the Oireachtas last night when he comfortably won a seat in the Seanad elections.
Mr Higgins was elected to the Labour panel on the seventh count, having polled 68,000 first-preference votes, which put him well placed to eventually exceed the quota of 79,584.
Twenty-two candidates contested the 11 seats on the panel. A senior frontbench spokesman, who was frequently referred to as a possible future leader, Mr Higgins lost his seat in Mayo in the general election. Mayo is also the constituency of the party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, and his party colleague, Mr Michael Ring. The other seats are held by Independent Dr Jerry Cowley and Fianna Fáil's Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn.
Mr Higgins's election was another boost for the Fine Gael strategy of having senators elected who will challenge for a Dáil seat at the next election. It has also been speculated that Mr Higgins may be a candidate for the party in Connacht-Ulster in the next European elections.
As the count continued in Leinster House late last night, it became clear that a Labour candidate, Mr Des Geraghty, the SIPTU president, would not take a seat. However, his transfer to his running mate, Mr Michael McCarthy from Bandon, an unsuccessful candidate in Cork South West in the general election, was expected to secure the Labour seat on the panel. Mr McCarthy is seen by the Labour Party as a bright Dáil prospect.
Ms Kathy Sinnott (Independent), who came close to taking a Dáil seat in Cork South Central, was challenging for a seat. However, it was thought that she might find herself short of transfers.
Mr Liam Fitzgerald, an outgoing Fianna Fáil senator and former TD, was first to be elected to the panel in a spectacular performance. He secured 85,000 first preferences, comfortably over the quota of 79,584, in retaining his seat. In the last Seanad election, he narrowly secured a seat having lost his Dáil seat in Dublin North East.
Mr Don Lydon (Fianna Fáil) was re-elected on the ninth count, having secured 66,000 first preferences. However, long-serving Fianna Fáil senator Mr Dan Kiely faced elimination after a disappointing 32,000 first-preferences.
Another casualty among outgoing senators was Fine Gael's Ms Therese Ridge, who secured 30,000 first preferences. However, her party colleague, Mr Michael Finucane, who lost his Dáil seat in Limerick West in the general election, is in contention with 51,000 first preferences. Mr Eddie Wade (FF), who lost his Dáil seat in Limerick East, was under pressure, having polled 36,000 first preferences.
Fianna Fáil's Mr Chris Andrews, who was tipped to take a Dáil seat in Dublin South East in an early general election poll but later lost out, failed in his bid for the Seanad. There was better news for the former Fianna Fáil minister of state and TD for Roscommon, Mr Terry Leyden, who polled 50,000 first preferences, which put him in the running for a seat.