Pro-life Senator Rónán Mullen has been successfully re-elected to the Seanad, the upper house of Ireland’s legislature, after topping the National University of Ireland (NUI) panel.
Rónán secured his fourth consecutive election receiving a record number of 9,642 first preference votes from a total of 38,118 – the largest ever turnout.
It is over twice the number of votes compared with the first time he ran in 2007 when he secured 4,661 votes. He retained his seats in 2011 after topping the poll with 6,459 first preference votes, doing the same again in 2016 with 9,016 first preference votes.
Rónán – a fearless defender of the unborn – said the signing into law of Ireland’s abortion legislation as a “tragic reversal of Ireland’s history of defending the most vulnerable”.
Lamenting the imposition of an extreme abortion law in Northern Ireland he described the regime as “an act of extreme moral and legislative violence” and “another dark, dark chapter in our history.”
Rónán’s victory comes after Ireland’s general election last month saw all fifteen pro-life politicians, who had voted against legalising abortion in 2018, re-elected to the lower house of Ireland’s parliament (Dáil Éireann).
In contrast, many of the country’s strident pro-abortion politicians lost their seats.
After the result was declared, Rónán said: “These are tough times for everybody. While it is good to have something to celebrate, I am mindful of the current health crisis we are all experiencing. Like everyone else, I am concerned for the safety and wellbeing of family and friends. I commend those who took time to vote in these days, and especially those who supported my campaign.
“I look forward to playing my part in developing good laws for the country at a time of tremendous challenge. I will continue to speak up and act in defence of human dignity in every way I can.”
