Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said her party is in a strong position to play an “important role” in the 34th Dáil, following the General Election.
The Cork South West candidate held on to her Dáil seat last night and so far, her party has secured seven seats in the election – surpassing their total of six in 2020.
The party is expected to make further gains as the count continues in a number of constituencies.
In a statement, Ms Cairns said: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dáil. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.”
She said that the Social Democrats will talk to all other parties about government formation in “due course”.
“Our success in this election is down to the calibre of our candidates and the positive campaign we ran,” Ms Cairns said.
“The Social Democrats did not engage in auction politics, we were clear with the electorate about what our deal-breakers for government would be, and that clarity and sincerity helped us to stand out from other parties.”
The party leader said that the past week has been monumental for her both personally and politically. On Friday, Ms Cairns and her partner welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
“On a personal basis, I am so honoured to have been re-elected as a TD for Cork South-West.
“The fact that this coincided with another extremely happy event – the birth of my daughter – makes this a joyous weekend that I will never forget,” she said.
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Meanwhile, the party’s deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said that every party has an obligation to do their best to try and form a government following an election.
“We have to do our best to try and get our policies inputted, and that is why we are involved in politics that is what elections are about,” he said.
Mr O’Callaghan, who topped the poll in his Dublin Bay North constituency, said that Social Democrats would negotiate with other parties but would not participate in a government that did not make a real change to housing, disability or healthcare.
“We couldn’t contemplate supporting a government that doesn’t try to change the direction that we are going in as a country in those areas,” he said.
Mr O’Callaghan said the party is determined to deliver in these areas if it gets into government.
Meanwhile Eoin Hayes, a first-time TD for the party, won the fourth and final seat in Dublin Bay South.
Following his win, he said that the Social Democrats is ready to enter government, adding they would bring “social democratic principles” and “social democratic policies”.
He said the party had “five hard red lines” and would drive a hard bargain in government negotiations.
Mr Hayes is one of four first-time TDs for the party, along with Liam Quaide in Cork East, Rory Hearne in Dublin North-West and Sinéad Gibney in Dublin Rathdown.
