The shock news that sitting MEP Seán Ó Neachtain will not now be contesting the European Parliamentary Elections in June due to ill health has left Fianna Fáil in a tight corner and down a candidate with only just over six weeks to go to the election. The burning question is to who will they get to replace the former Galway school teacher on the ticket alongside the recently nominated Pascal Mooney.
Informed speculation says that Frank Chambers, who had decided that he was stepping away from politics altogether after at the end of his current term on Mayo County Council, could be poised to go forward for the party on the European ticket. The former senator and Dáil candidate has a national profile from his time on the national party executive and as a senator. It is believed locally that the party could use this as they try to maintain their one seat in the North West constituency. It is believed that Chambers would be open to the idea of running on the ticket if approached, but he has yet to make any public statement on the issue.
The Newport based auctioneer decided to retire from politics after the new boundary changes saw his home town of Newport being split away from the Westport electoral area and included in the Belmullet electoral area, leaving Chambers’ vote base split into two different electoral areas. While Chambers may be a viable candidate from Mayo there is intense speculation in Galway as to who will be put forward to contest in the 785 seat parliament.
In Galway already a number of names has emerged as to who FF HQ might suggest. One of the first was the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív. Many within FF would feel Minister Ó Cuív is the only one who can hold the seat, given his high profile and the fact he is in touch with rural issues (important in this largely rural constituency ).
However running a Cabinet Minister at a time when Fianna Fáil is a toxic brand in Irish politics could be an absolute lightning rod for those angry with the Government. Furthermore if Minister Ó Cuív were to win the seat it would result not only in a by-election (which FF could lose ) but also a Cabinet reshuffle — neither of which Taoiseach Brian Cowen would relish.
There is speculation that HQ will not run any sitting TD. However there is also speculation that HQ is pleading with Galway based TDs Dep Noel Treacy and Dep Frank Fahey to consider running. However - and put nothing past FF - what if the party pulls the ultimate act of cynicism? It has a TD run and win, who immediately resigns the Euro seat and lets the sub (Pascal Mooney ) take over. Perhaps that’s too sneaky, even for Fianna Fáil.
