2021 Seanad by-elections

[1] The vacancies were caused by the resignations of Fine Gael's Michael W. D'Arcy from the Agricultural Panel in September 2020 to become chief executive of the Irish Association of Institute Management;[2] and of Sinn Féin's Elisha McCallion from the Industrial and Commercial Panel in October 2020 due to a COVID-19 grants controversy.

Michael W. D'Arcy resigned on 30 September 2020,[8] with a notice of the vacancy sent to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 1 December.

[9] Elisha McCallion resigned on 5 November 2020,[10] with a notice of the vacancy sent to the minister on 1 February 2021.

[11] The minister is required to make a Seanad by-election order within 180 days after receiving a notice of a vacancy.

[12] On 3 March 2021, Minister Darragh O'Brien made an order for the by-election which set the following dates:[13] Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ran one candidate each in different panels, and had a voting pact to back each other's candidates.