Lucinda the liability. July 20, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, FG, Politics.Tags: Brian Hayes, Enda Kenny, John Deasy, Lucinda Creighton, Political funding
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Lucinda Creighton today confirmed what many of us already knew- that she is bitter at being over looked in the recent front bench reshuffle and is out for revenge. The Dublin South East TD is known to be a loudmouth amongst party colleagues but today she really did it. She proclaimed that Fine Gael was at risk of being a Fianna Fail lite. Exactly what Labour wants to hear! A woman who is so intelligent really lacks a lot of common sense. Even if she has issues with how Fine Gael is funded, this issue should be brought up with the party not with the media. Perhaps it’s because no one in the party listens to her whining anymore that she is making this public declaration? Her media stunt today has only further damaged her political prospects and will ensure Enda Kenny keeps her as far from the cabinet as possible after the next general election.
The issue that Lucinda has with the party is that developer Michael O’Flynn was present at last weeks fundraiser at the K Club. One developer appears to be the count? This is how small a scale Lucinda’s problems is. It also seems to be lost on her, that some property developers may actually support her own party or that they, like many other members may wish to contribute financially to the party. Her argument is that it’s ok for a shopkeeper to write the cheque for 1,500 euro, but not a shopkeeper who has/is building a house for resale. Is it right that all developers are now tarred with the Fianna Fail/ corrupt image?
Lucinda Creighton today continued the ongoing damage which is destroying the party’s election prospects following Brian Hayes personal interview with the Mail last week and after John Deasy declared the party was in crisis at the Young Fine Gael Summer School in Waterford. Personally I can’t understand why Enda Kenny is sitting back and allowing the likes of Creighton, Deasy and Hayes (Brian) to slander the public image of the party. Action needs to be taken…and fast. For Fine Gael must decide how big a liability Lucinda Creighton actually is and whether she is actually needed.
Hard- hitting article which appeared earlier this year in the Star newspaper.
Kenny-gate: Time for whiskey and revolver. June 15, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, FG, Politics.Tags: Alan Shatter, Brian Hayes, Charles Flanagan, Enda Kenny, Fine Gael front bench, Richard Bruton
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Olywn: has supported Bruton, but has not yet commented.
It is tonight being speculated (but not yet confirmed) that Fine Gael front bencher’s Charles Flanagan and Alan Shatter are to meet with both Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton in an attempt to solve the dispute and end the crisis that is unfolding. This is seen as a very significant development. Shatter came out in favour of Kenny over the weekend, while Flanagan stayed on the fence saying he was not able to or willing to choose a side.(A very intelligent thing in hindsight) It looks clear now that they will attempt to get Kenny to stand down from his position to end the impasse that is growing over the leadership of the party.
Earlier Denis Naughton spoke of his dissatisfaction with Kenny, which he has had “for some time” It now leaves nine members of the front bench against Kenny including several high profilers like Leo Varadkar and Brian Hayes. Some in the media have suggested that Kenny can and may still win the leadership vote on Thursday. Kenny is planning to put together a new front bench on Monday. That is of course provided he wins the leadership challenge on Thursday. However the reality is that Fine Gael members will not accept a front bench without Leo Varadkar, Richard Bruton, Olivia Mitchell and Brian Hayes. If Kenny wins, the party’s future is at risk.
Enda Kenny earlier tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government. Sitting next to him was Dr. James Reilly. The motion will be voted on later and is sure to pass.
Brian Hayes this evening declared that “rebuilding the party and rebuilding this country are two separate things” and that they needed a leader with the confidence of both the public and the people. He described the view the public have taken as unfair but reality. He argued that Richard Bruton had the greatest credibility to be leader.
Enda suggested on RTÉ that if he wins on Thursday, that he may reinstate the old front bench next week.
If Enda is meeting with Shatter and Flanagan, it may very much be a case of whiskey and the gun. If Kenny doesn’t walk tonight, we will have to wait till Thursday for some fireworks!
Dublin South West: A potential Bloodbath? June 9, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, Politics.Tags: Brian Hayes, Charlie O'Connor, Conor Lenihan, Eamonn Maloney, FF, FG, LAB, Pat Rabbitte, SF
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Former Mayor: Maloney to contest election
Labour last night choose their 2 candidates for Dublin South West for the next General Election. They have chosen sitting TD Pat Rabbitte along with Councillor Eamonn Maloney. This two candidate strategy ensures that DSW will be nothing less than a bloodbath.
It currently contains sitting Fianna Fail TD’s Conor Lenihan and Charlie O’Connor. One of the two is certain to lose his seat. While one might assume Lenihan to be safer due to his higher profile, I fully doubt that he is. Both of these candidates are looking for votes out of the exact same trough. Watch out for some real dirty electioneering here between these two as they fight tooth and nail to be returned to the 31st Dáil.
The constituency also contains Fine Gael front bench Education Spokesperson Brian Hayes, who got elected on the first count in 2007. One can only assume that Fine Gael will run with a 2 candidate strategy. Fine Gael Councillors are somewhat sparse on the ground in this area so it’s not clear who the front-runner could be. Possible options includes Colm Brophy or Brian Lawlor, but it’s far to early to tell at this stage. Nevertheless Fine Gael should be able to get 1.5 quotas meaning a second seat is a possibility, particularly when 2 FF candidates will be fighting each other to save one seat.
So what about the Labour strategy? Well there is one big issue on everyone’s mind. If, in 2007 when Rabbitte was leader, how was there only a bare 1 quota there for Labour? Naturally, Labour have grown in popularity since that point but Rabbitte was a great candidate, which has to be a private worry for Labour. Therefore one would expect Labour to chose an excellent candidate who will draw in votes from everywhere to secure that second seat. Is Maloney that kind of candidate? In the 2009 locals, he got 0.92 of a quota and 2,344 votes. If he could transfer as much of these across to a General he would be in with a good chance. However his location must be examined. Tallaght is a very tough area and will also contain a strong Sinn Fein candidate (Probably Sean Crowe) What we here at Scandalcentral can’t seem to understand is why Mick Duff was overlooked. Duff is currently mayor and has a large profile. Duff topped the poll at the last election and would have been better placed geographically to hold back the SF challenge. (Duff out-polled Crowe in the local’s) Maloney is also quite typical to most of the Labour candidates being chosen, old! Maloney served as Mayor of South Dublin from 2006-2007 and has led a campaign to protect children’s services at Tallaght Hospital. He stands a chance of getting elected, but will have to work very hard to do so.
Hayes: To top poll?
It also must be remembered that in any future Government both Brian Hayes and Pat Rabbitte would be likely to be on the front bench, like it or not they will both suck in votes because everyone wants a Minister! It’s pretty clear that DSW is going to be a complete bloodbath. Expect Rabbitte and Hayes to be in the door on the first count. Expect a Fianna Fail to be next. Then sit back and watch the blood, sweat and tears as you have 1 Fianna Fail, 1 Fine Gael, Maloney and Crowe battle it out for the last seat. No predications here!
