# Ray McAdam Elected to Seanad Eireann in By-Election Fine Gael councillor secures Seanad seat following Seán Kyne's departure to the Dáil. - **Source:** [The Irish Times – Politics](https://www.irishtimes.com/politics) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7eb9725c-54d2-4fae-8f5f-0138d6c11923 ## Seanad Seat Filled Fine Gael councillor and former Dublin lord mayor Ray McAdam has been elected to the Seanad. This by-election was triggered by the departure of his party colleague, Seán Kyne, who moved to the Dáil earlier this year. The result brings the total number of senators in the upper house to sixty. ## Electoral College Process The electorate for this specific Seanad by-election consisted exclusively of members from both houses of the Oireachtas. This group includes all 174 TDs and the 59 existing senators. Because the government parties hold a secure majority among these members, the voting process favored the Fine Gael candidate over his three opponents. ## Decisive First Count Ray McAdam secured his position on the culture and educational panel during the first count. He achieved 104 percent of the required quota to win the seat. His competitors trailed significantly, with human rights lawyer Maeve O’Rourke receiving 47 percent, while Caitlín Ní Bhroin and Patrick Walsh received 40 and 7 percent respectively. ## Opposition Support Dynamics Maeve O’Rourke was initially viewed as the primary rival to McAdam, having secured support from a large portion of the Opposition. However, Sinn Féin’s decision to support Caitlín Ní Bhroin ultimately fractured the opposition vote. This strategic shift prevented a unified challenge against the government candidate, ensuring McAdam's victory in the chamber. ## McAdam's Political Background Born in County Cavan and raised in County Fermanagh, Ray McAdam has a long history in local government. He was first elected to the Dublin City Council in 2009 and has successfully retained his seat in every subsequent election. His experience includes serving as the Lord Mayor of Dublin for the city. ## Legislative Priorities Stated Following his election, McAdam described the role as an enormous privilege and responsibility. He emphasized that his legislative focus will remain on delivering more affordable homes and easing household costs for citizens. Furthermore, he expressed a strong commitment to making local communities safer while championing the interests of the Dublin Central area. ## Commitment to Dublin Central Despite his new national role in the Seanad, McAdam intends to maintain his connection to his local constituency. Having represented the North Inner City for seventeen years, he plans to ensure that local voices are heard at the national level. He views political success through the tangible difference made to people's lives. ## Broader Political Context The election of McAdam reinforces the current government's legislative standing within the Oireachtas. As the Seanad reaches its full complement of sixty members, the focus shifts to how these representatives will address ongoing national challenges. The outcome highlights the importance of party discipline and coalition dynamics within the Irish parliamentary system. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2026/11/06/fine-gaels-ray-mcadam-elected-to-the-seanad/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._