Copyright thejournal
We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Maria Steen speaking outside Leinster House last month during her campaign to get on the ballot for the Áras.Christina Finn/TheJournal Maria Steen says there's a big gap on Irish political right - but is unsure if she'll run again Steen said it’s “early days” on whether she will stand for another election again anytime soon. 4.08pm, 26 Oct 2025 Share options MARIA STEEN HAS said she believes there is a big gap on the right of Ireland politics, which she believes means has left a number of the voting feeling “unrepresented” by political parties. Yesterday saw a historic united left front of parties ranging from Sinn Féin to People Before Profit help Catherine Connolly receive the most votes and highest vote preference percentage of any president in Ireland’s history. It has also sparked discussion over how the right of Irish politics may look to work together to achieve similar success in future, with some conservative commentators calling on parties such as Fine Gael to tilt back towards them. While the incoming president Catherine Connolly won by a historic margin, the election also saw more people than ever spoil their votes – over 200,000 people nationwide. Steen, who attempted to stand for election but failed to garner enough support from politicians to qualify as a candidate, said the amount of spoiled votes in yesterday’s presidential election is a “big rebuke to the political establishment”. “I think there’s a lot of people that simply do not feel represented,” Steen told RTE’s This Week programme this afternoon. “Catherine Connolly had a great victory but when you look at her vote as a proportion of the overall electorate, it amounts to about 25%,” she said. “That means that there’s an awful lot of people out there who either chose not to engage with this election because they felt there was no point in them doing so, or who voted for somebody else or chose to spoil their votes.” Steen said she agreed with remarks made by Declan Ganley, a conservative activist and member of the Spoil The Vote campaign, that there is a “massive gap” for voters on the right of the political spectrum. Steen, a barrister and architect, is best known for her advocacy as a member of the socially conservative Catholic organisation, the Iona Institute. Advertisement She rose to prominence during the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015, in which she campaigned against same-sex marriage, and later in the 2018 abortion referendum, in which she campaigned against liberalising abortion laws. ‘Early days’ on next election run Steen said she was “really very grateful and humbled” that some people wrote in her name, including Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. Before her short-lived Áras bid, Steen had not taken a public role in recent elections. Steen said it’s “early days” on whether she will stand again, adding that she’s not planning to contest another election for the time being. “There isn’t going to be an election for another four years so we’ll see,” she said, referring to when the next general election is currently scheduled to take place. It appears to have ruled out Steen standing in the Galway West bye-election for Connolly’s soon to be vacant Dáil seat, although that may have been a longshot anyway for the Dublin-based conservative campaigner. The debate over a potential gap on the gap for Irish political parties to move towards arose during a panel debate on RTÉ Radio One this weekend when Iona Institute director and Sunday Independent columnist David Quinn criticised Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins for “leaving votes on the table” at election time by “ignoring” conservatives. “I think ultimately society has moved on ad you want political parties to move with society, you want political parties to be reflective.” Higgins told Quinn on Brendan O’Connor’s morning programme. Going viral on TikTok - This interaction between Minister @EmerHigginsTD and columnist @DavQuinn#aras25 #aras2025 pic.twitter.com/7gn9QvGdII— David W. Higgins (@higginsdavidw) October 25, 2025 Quinn said that many voters who may have voted for parties such as Fine Gael now don’t vote or choose the “nearest like-minded Independent, or vote for Aontú”, Ex-Sinn Féin TD Tóibín founded Aontú following disagreements with Mary Lou McDonald’s party over its stance on issues including abortion. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Eoghan Dalton View 12 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Maria Steen says there's a big gap on Irish political right - but is unsure if she'll run again”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Maria Steen says there's a big gap on Irish political right - but is unsure if she'll run again”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs. Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Please provide additional information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Leave a commentcancel Newly created accounts can only comment using The Journal app. This is to add an extra layer of security to account creation. Download and sign into the app to continue. Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion maria steen spoil the vote spoiled votes News in 60 seconds election long read Inside the Humphreys campaign: 'We had a fair idea a week ago we were going to lose' Christina Finn advantage arsenal Arsenal edge win against Crystal Palace as Man City lose to Aston Villa in Premier League 18 mins ago Marathon Girl Months after running her first ever marathon, this teenager claimed the Irish title in Dublin 27 mins ago Manhunt stood down in UK after sex offender who was mistakenly released caught by police Hamas accuses Israel of 'clear violation' of ceasefire after latest strike in Gaza Brilliant Achievement In pics: Shamrock Rovers boss Bradley among the participants at Dublin City marathon current husband Who is Brian McEnery, the man set to be Ireland's next 'first husband'? As it happened Catherine Connolly will be the 10th President of Ireland How did your constituency vote? Here are the full results of the presidential election new woman in the áras Connolly pledges to 'shape a new republic' as she's elected president with largest vote ever INVALID VOTES Here’s how many people in your constituency spoiled their vote more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online
