12.11.06
Higgins won’t pull out
This FG Meath West convention is going to be tense.
Despite all kinds of pressure, Trim Cllr and Solitictor Peter Higgins is refusing to withdraw his nomination at the convention. Apparently he is claiming he has an excellent chance of getting elected to the Dail since he has an automatic entitlement to all FG votes in the Trim area AND those of Castlepollard since he is from there. He is a sincere and decent man but this is just the kind of complacency and delusion that has FG where it is today. Other than his sincerity there is no compelling reason to vote for him unless you are already a committed FG voter. There is no star quality, no charisma, no name recognition, no energy, no track record of dynamism, no belief that THIS man might actually do something different. It’s just more of the same.
The problem now is that the FG members at the convention might vote for him rather than Geraghty because they believe the same things as Higgins: that good old fashioned middle class decency entitles one to the votes of the right minded establishment of a rural county like Meath. If Higgins is nominated FG will have one seat in Meath West. With Geraghty there is a great chance of two.
Apparently the wife is instrumental in Higgins’ self-belief.
On the other hand Geraghty and his wife are touring the constituency meeting FG members and the Enfield lot were extremely impressed. She has serious ties to Fianna Fail. Her mother worked for the MEP Jim FitzSimmons for years. She is on excellent terms with Bertie Ahern. FF must be puking. However, people with cop-on in FG know this makes her a fantastic asset for Geraghty. She’ll know all the political traps to which he might be vulnerable.
I dread the compromise: that they’ll decide to nominate 3 candidates rather than 2. What a mess. FG’s best hope is 1.5 quotas. Higgins will zero in on committed FG voters in the country rather than seeking out new votes. It’ll bring down English’s no. 1′s thus destabilising him. It’ll end up with Geraghty and Higgins being eliminated while count after count FF have been picking up transfers from SF etc. What a mess.
HQ did threaten that they would allow the convention to only nominate one person. English the fool threatened to walk out if that happened? Why? Does he think that if it was left to FG members that he would have secured a place on the ticket? Does he forget he was added to the ticket by HQ? There are people in FG who know what they are doing, but persuading the members to act sensibly is the hard bit.
It’s amazing how IQ is irrelevant without a tiny bit of self-awareness. Higgins should withdraw instead of playing on old loyalties. The thousands of new voters in housing estates in Enfield don’t give a shit how nice he is. They never heard of him.
The convention takes place in Athboy tonight.
Daniel K. said,
December 11, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Sarah, the simple solution is the one that FF are going to do in Limerick East. Promise the guy (Higgins) support for a Seanad run. FG have nearly as many councillors as FF, and should be within 15/20 or so seats in the next Dail, and if Enda was Taoiseach there are a 5/6 nominees and then FG can probably look at electing 25 senators based on numbers. With the backing of HQ he could do that at a much lower cost with more chance of success than running for the Dail and losing.
Mol said,
December 11, 2006 at 3:29 pm
Daniel
This promise is being given to candidates who they (FG) want to run but might not get in. They are trying to encourage these people to run i.e. young people who might have a great chance the second time round. FG want to change the image of the Seanad, i,e, it’s no longer a retirement home. They want it as a nurturing ground for young people.
Ray said,
December 11, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Actually, the image of the senate is that it’s a pointless waste of money, just a cushy number for politicians who can’t get elected to the Dail.
Nice to see my prejudices confirmed.
Mol said,
December 11, 2006 at 4:27 pm
No Ray
You have taken me up wrong. Of all the current FG Senators, all but one a are running in the next GE. The Senate is no longer a long term option for FG people. That’s my point. Instead of a retirement village they are trying us it as a learning curve for younger people who hopefully will be sucessfull in a GE in the future.
Moll
Tension mounts in Meath FG circles at Irish Election said,
December 11, 2006 at 5:03 pm
[...] UPDATE: Much more of the local colour from Sarah Carey. We’ll try and post the outcome of the selection convention tonight. [...]
John of Dublin said,
December 11, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Yea 3 candidates would be a laugh – they could end up with none elected – a la FG in Dun Laoghaire last time. My neighbour Helen Keogh had highest 1st preference but it was all so diluted over too many candidates that none of them got in.
Sarah said,
December 11, 2006 at 8:46 pm
I can’t go to the convention- child issues. My father is nominating Higgins. My sister is nominating Geraghty. His speech refers to their purpose tonight – to keep democracy alive – in Fine Gael – in Meath. Her speech refers to their purpose tonight – to nominate a candidate capable of winning a second seat for FG in Meath West. Higgins asked my Dad. HQ “asked” my sister. My other sister is going to film it.
The accusations of betrayal have been flying all day. WHO bought the tea for the Geraghty party in Flattery’s of Enfield?? The resignation of the Chairman has been demanded on the grounds that he is biased. Generally one could expect a wife to breakdown a cry at the convention, but from what I hear, neither of these two are so inclined.
Throats will be cut, but WHOSE?
Meath West — FG Selection Convention at Irish Election said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:28 am
[...] Direct from a source in Athboy: FG HQ has directed that 3 candidates be chosen. Sarah’s complaint is being realised. So it’s Geraghty but on a diluted ticket. Updates to follow. [...]
EJP said,
December 12, 2006 at 10:41 am
I’ll admit I haven’t really been following the news stories about his intention to run, but why is Geraghty seemingly being hailed as the solution to all FG’s woes in Meath? Is it just because he’s young, attractive and a recognisable name, or has he got some fresh and imaginative solutions to the problems in the County?
I heard he was being interviewed on Morning Ireland this morning, so presumably he was quizzed on the above during the interview, but I decided to switch on the ipod rather than wait for a thick meath accent to put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
Leon said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:05 pm
That is such a funny title; has Higgins a string of kids (being reared by the taxpayer because he WON’T PULL OUT)
Women don’t put out because men won’t pull out.
I am a refugee from the 70s.
tomcosgrave said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Having seen a couple of them in my time (not FG ones), I’m inclined to think that selection conventions are one of the worst elements of Irish politics. The egos are incredible – both of head office sticking their oar in and of the no-hoper candidates, even if they were solid contenders in years gone by.
Ray said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:19 pm
“Of all the current FG Senators, all but one a are running in the next GE.”
Yeah, couldn’t get elected last time, so the party gives them a cushy job until next time. They’re not in the Senate to _do anything_, they’re in the Senate to get paid and put ‘Senator’ on their election material.
Daniel K. said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Ra, what other party does different in the Seanad?
Leon said,
December 12, 2006 at 12:56 pm
But why bother with these people. Look at Brian Hayes. He is a young guy didn’t get elected so theys ent him to the senate.
Why not just throw him away?
Because FG are losers.
tomcosgrave said,
December 12, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Ray,
They’re (FG and other opposition senators) in there to oppose legislation sent to it by the Dáil. While the senate needs profound reform, it does exist to do something. The only reason the current sitting Seanad fails to have an impact is because the Government has a majority in Seanad, thanks to it’s 16 nominations, and the success of FF electorally after the last election, where councillors saw fit to nominate FF Seanad candidates.
Ray said,
December 12, 2006 at 3:01 pm
tom, look at the comments above re. the senate. Or tell me when was the last time you ever heard it said “Yeah, we should send that guy to the Senate, because he’ll do a great job of opposing bad legislation.”, or “I know, I know, you’d make a great TD and help us pick up that extra seat – but we need you in the Senate!”
Its the very definition of a sinecure.
DanielK, “but everyone else is just as bad” isn’t an argument that will convince me that FG are the virtuous alternative to FF.
tomcosgrave said,
December 12, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Ray, I don’t disagree with you (I did say it needed profound reform), but they do actually do work in the Seanad regardless, as opposed to sitting around doing nothing at all, which seems to be the impression you have.
Ray said,
December 13, 2006 at 10:27 am
No, I’m sure they do work. Party work, preparation for the next election, practice for being a TD. And they only get paid 60,000 euro a year for it, the poor things.