Former Fianna Fáil minister Éamon Ó Cuív has slammed the government for making a “focain ciseach” [a fuckin’ mess] of the recent fuel protests and said that the upcoming bye-election in Galway West “will be hard” for the party.
The former Gaeltacht minister also contradicted recent remarks from current Gaeltacht minister Dara Calleary, saying that the protestors “won” by forcing the government into announcing a new package of measure to reduce fuel costs this week.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Mr Ó Cuív was asked for his views on how the government had handled the recent fuel protests.
Responding in Irish, the retired politician said, “Rinne an rialtas focain ciseach dó.” – which translates to “the government made a fuckin’ mess of it.”
Mr Ó Cuív also criticised the government for not announcing provisions in the package that was revealed last Sunday, prior to the outbreak of the protests across the country.
The former TD for Galway West was asked for his opinion on whether protestors were right to blockade fuel distribution sights and roads across the country in an attempt to gain concessions from the government.
“Look, it should not have happened as it happened, I’m not going to make a judgement on it,” he said.
“The transporters and large agricultural contractors were greatly perturbed. Because say if you’re transporting stuff to Tesco, are they going to put up the price on the transport, or say there’s no fuel variation clause to cover this? Thats the problem.”
Mr Ó Cuív also offered his insights on the upcoming bye-election in Galway West, saying it will be “hard for the government” but that Social Democrats candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich has a credible chance of taking the seat.
The retired politician said that Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich’s mother Mairéad Ní Oistín is a well-known sean-nós singer in Connemara who previously won the prestigious Corn Uí Riada trophy.
He also said that the Socal Democrats candidate would likely benefit from a strong left-of-centre vote in Cois Fharraige and An Ceathrú Rua which is influenced by that Gaelthacht Civil Rights Movement from the late 1960s.
The former minister also said that Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich would probably emerge as the strongest candidate among the six left-wing candidates who have agreed a transfer pact and are endorsed by progressive activist group Tonn na Clé.
“The vote that Catherine Connolly got was in South Connemara, and it was the Civil Rights vote from long ago. One would think that would go to Míde,” Mr Ó Cuív said.
“I think she’ll come out on top from ‘Tonn ar Clé’, that group of six left-wing candidates that have come together. Not by a lot but by a little bit”
Referring to a report in last week’s Advertiser, Mr Ó Cuív noted that many Sinn Féin members in Connemara are not canvassing for their candidate Mark Lohan due to his inability to speak fluent Irish and said that this would likely be to the advantage of the Social Democrats.
The retired politician also said the Sinn Féin candidate’s lack of Irish would prevent him from communicating with many voters in Connemara due to him being unable to speak on Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Mr Ó Cuív said, “Mark Lohan has a problem in Connemara…he’s not Mairéad Farrell, he can’t go on the radio.”
The former minister also said that Independent Ireland candidate Noel Thomas would likely do well in the bye-election but that he would need a very strong proportion of first-preference votes across the whole constituency as he would likely not be as healthy on transfers.
During the last General Election in Galway West, Mr Thomas secured 9.5 per cent of first preferences and finished in sixth place, just missing out on the last of five seats.
However, he faired best in the west of the consituency and tallies from South Connemara estimated that he secured just over one fifth of first preference votes there.
“It’s the opinion of the bookmakers that it will be Noel Thomas,” Mr Ó Cuív said. “If Noel Thomas is not over 30 per cent on the first count, I don’t see where he will get the transfers.”
“There’s more votes in the city than there is in Connemara so the question is, can Noel Thomas get votes in the east?”
The former minister was also asked if Mr Thomas would pick up a significant share of votes from voters who supported sitting independent TD Noel Grealish at the last election.
“No, because Noel Grealish has a candidate and they hate each other,” Mr Ó Cuív said. “It’s not a right-wing vote, it’s a local vote for Noel Grealish.”
Independent county councillor Thomas Welby has received the backing of deputy Grealish in the current bye-election.
Mr Ó Cuív was also not optimistic about the prospect of Noel Thomas picking up transfer votes from the government parties, saying, “Oh Christ no. No, no, no, no.”
Furthermore, when asked if Fianna Fáil is in trouble in the forthcoming bye-election, the former minister responded, “It is after last week.”
