Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny, while on his constituency visit to Carlow Kilkenny this week, had a sharp message for voters in the constituency.
He told voters that at the last election they had not stepped up to the mark and had not brought a second Fine Gael seat to Carlow Kilkenny and he warned that this time, unless two seats were secured for the constituency that there was no guarantee of a senior ministerial position for the electoral area.
Most people are of the opinion that the role is a dead cert for Deputy Phil Hogan who stood staunchly by Enda Kenny throughout the leadership contest in recent times.
However, earlier this week Mr Kenny told the gathering at the Rivercourt Hotel that there were no guarantees unless the voting public in Carlow Kilkenny secured two Fine Gael seats.
Deputy John Paul Phelan is running for the second seat in Kilkenny while Cllr Pat Deering is contesting the election in Carlow.
Mr Kenny said, “it is entirely up to the people of Carlow Kilkenny as to what they do with their votes but unless there are two seats in this constituency there may not be a senior minister position.”
Deputy Hogan in response to Mr Kenny’s comments said, “I cannot be considered for a Ministerial post unless I am elected. If voters adhere to the Fine Gael voting strategy, I am confident we will win a second seat and be in the hunt for a third. That strategy is vote No 1 for Phil Hogan in Kilkenny city and North Kilkenny with No 2 for John Paul Phelan and No 3 for Pat Deering; in South Kilkenny Vote No 1 for John Paul Phelan. No 2 for Phil Hogan and No 3 for Pat Deering and in Carlow vote no 1 for Pat Deering and continue preferences for Hogan and Phelan.” said Deputy Hogan.
Meanwhile, Senator Phelan narrowly missed out on the second seat in the last election to Mary White and this was largely seen to be as a result of the mis-management of the Fine Gael vote within the party locally.
Senator Phelan is hopeful that this time he will be successful in his bid for the second seat, while Cllr Deering who is less well known in the Carlow area will be banking on the party vote to come his way to get him elected.
There is stiff competition in south Kilkenny for votes as Fine Gael’s Senator Phelan, Labour’s new candidate, Ann Phelan and Fianna Fail stalwart Bobby Aylward battle it out on the doorsteps for votes in the small, rural area.
However, one way or the other Mr Kenny made it clear that there would be no ministerial handouts for this constituency unless the voting public put their money where their mouth is!
