Social Democrats confident of winning seven seats

Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall have insisted the party can win seven seats in the election — thereby gaining key speaking rights in the next Dáil.

The TDs made the claim during the party’s final press conference of the campaign outside Leinster House yesterday, despite independent predictions their opinion poll growth may not be reflected in seat numbers.

While the party currently has three TDs in the form of Ms Murphy, Ms Shortall, and Stephen Donnelly and believes Niall Ó Thuathail in Galway West/South Mayo, ex-Labour senator James Heffernan and Sarah Jane Hennelly, both in Limerick, among others, are in contention, the party is not guaranteed any progression.