THE Government backed candidate, the Belfast born and broadcaster, Sam McAughtry was elected to the Seanad yesterday by a margin of 13 votes over his nearest rival, the barrister and founder member of the SDLP, Mr Paddy O'Hanlon.
Only TDs and senators were entitled to vote in the by election, which was caused by the death of the former Cathaoirleach, Mr Sean Fallon of Fianna Fail.
The total electorate was 1223 and there were two abstentions. Mr McAughtry was elected on the first count with 115 votes compared to 102 for Mr O'Hanlon, who was supported by Fianna Fail.
Each of the other candidates secured one first preference each. They were the former Fianna Fail minister of state, Mr Terry Leyden the former Fianna Fail senator, Mr Jim Doolan a Dublin architect, Mr David Keane and a Dublin businessman, Mr Peter Faulkner.
The Government had imposed a whip to ensure its members voted although it insists that ballot papers were not scrutinised. It is understood that the Independent senators, Dr Mary Henry and Mr David Norris, voted for Mr McAughtry.
Mr McAughtry says he will take the Government whip in general". His victory brings Government support in the 60 member Seanad up to 29, including the Cathaoirleach, Mr Liam Naughten of Fine Gael.
Although the Government has not got a majority support from some of the independents should mean it would lose only a small handful of votes in the Upper House.
Speaking after the result was announced, Mr McAughtry said "The one thing that I feared when 1 learned that an SDLP candidate was going to oppose me down here was that we were going to move the heat from the Six Counties down into the centre of Dublin. It didn't happen the contest was fair."
It was his "long term ambition" that "this island should contain five million Irish, living in two jurisdictions by consent, but with national structures to emphasise their Irishness.
His immediate aim was to "try to make contact and add my little penn'orth to those efforts that are being made at present by Messrs Hutchinson, Ervine and McMichael to keep the loyalist guns cold".
Mr O'Hanlon congratulated the new senator. They lived in historic times and he was sure that Mr McAughtry would make a contribution. "I ran in this election because I am concerned that there is a drift towards an internal settlement in the north of Ireland."
He said recent "outpourings" from the Ulster Unionist Party "seem to indicate that they've now drifted back to 1973 with regard to the assembly proposals and if they're not stopped short they'll be back as far as 1912". The only policy of the unionists was not to talk to anybody. "There is no business like no business," Mr O'Hanlon said.
Congratulating Mr McAughtry the leader of the Seanad, Mr Maudce Manning of Fine Gael, said "He fought a great campaign. He's going to be a great addition to the Upper House."
Addressing Mr McAughtry's nearest rival, he said "Hard luck, Paddy, but I think those who were behind you can be proud of you.