Fine Gael candidates cross swords

TEMPERS frayed in different Fine Gael camps this week as Deputy Pat Breen and former Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy crossed swords over canvassing and the positioning of political posters in Shannon town.

National director of elections, Phil Hogan issued a written directive on February 11 last, designating the Shannon Electoral Area including Shannon town and surrounding areas, Kilkishen, Kilmurry, Cratloe and Sixmilebridge a closed area from midnight for Councillor Mulcahy.
“Fine Gael believes we can win three seats in Clare. This will only be done by giving every opportunity to Councillor Mulcahy to grow his vote in the Shannon Electoral Area.
“I am asking all members in the Shannon Electoral Area to canvass for Councillor Mulcahy and to give him your number one preference on polling day and to continue your preference to Deputy Breen and Deputy Carey,” he said.
The Clare Champion also obtained a copy of a letter sent to a constituent in the Shannon Electoral Area from Deputy Breen dated February 9, which was received last week where the outgoing deputy requested his number 1 vote.
Councillor Mulcahy supporters were also incensed by the erection of a Pat Breen poster, carrying a pledge about giving a voice to Shannon Airport in the Shannon area, during the closed period.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Councillor Mulcahy claimed this type of behaviour is “wrong and deplorable” and isn’t in the best interest of helping Fine Gael to win three seats in Clare.
“I have always been a team player and I have never disobeyed a party directive. I was asked to run for Fine Gael to try and win three seats and I believe fair play is good sport. Pat Breen is going to be the biggest vote-getter and I need all the votes I can get in the Shannon Electoral Area,” he said.
In the last general election, Pat Breen secured 600, Joe Carey 400, Madeleine Taylor-Quinn 200 and Tony Mulcahy 450 first preferences in the Shannon Electoral Area outside of Shannon town.
However, Deputy Breen insisted he didn’t send out a blanket canvass of letters to people in the Shannon Electoral Area and only sent letters to constituents who had contacted his office to deal with an issue in the past.
The deputy estimated he sent out about 4,000 letters to constituents throughout the county and only a small fraction of these were in the Shannon Electoral Area.
He refuted suggestions he had breached a party directive and noted when he was informed there was a problem with his posters he got them removed from Shannon town and estimated they were in place during the closed period for a day or two because his supporters didn’t realise the directive also covered posters.
“I have not canvassed in the Shannon Electoral Area since the directive. Tony and I are good friends and I will be doing my best to ensure he is elected,” he said.
Meanwhile, former long serving TD and Senator Madeleine Taylor-Quinn came under fire for sending out a number of letters to constituents in West Clare asking them to give Deputy Carey a number 1 vote.
According to a copy of the letter obtained by The Clare Champion, she stated that she believed their best interests could be served by giving him a first preference vote.
“I have had the privilege of working closely with Joe’s father, Donal, for many years and that has continued since Joe’s election to the Dáil in 2007. I believe Joe Carey in the Dáil will be only too delighted to represent your interest and be available at all times to assist you in any personal issue that you might require his help on.
“I am urging you to give your number 1 to Deputy Carey and to continue your support for the other Fine Gael candidates,” she stated.
Deputy Breen described the letter as “ill-judged and ill-timed” and claimed that it smacked of “sour grapes” because she wasn’t a FG candidate in the General Election. “If I don’t get enough votes in West Clare, I will not be returned,” he said.
Councillor Tony Mulcahy expressed his disappointment that a former well-known Fine Gael public representative was endorsing one FG candidate over the two others.
However, Ms Taylor-Quinn insisted she was entitled to send out letters to any constituent as a “private citizen” and stressed that while she is an ordinary Fine Gael member, she isn’t an elected public representative.
Questioned if it is credible to suggest she is a “private citizen” in the political arena considering her long years of service in local and national politics, she felt this was not a matter to be subject to public scrutiny.
She also insisted she only sent out a small number of letters but declined to quantify or give a rough estimate of the amount. She pointed out that Joe Carey had relations in seven parishes in West Clare, which was more than any Fine Gael candidate.
Deputy Joe Carey confirmed he hadn’t asked Ms Taylor-Quinn to write this letter providing him with a personal endorsement.
Welcoming support from any individual, Deputy Carey admitted he was flattered that someone of the calibre of Ms Taylor-Quinn would endorse him in this way.
“I have had a long association with the Taylor family. My father, Donal worked together with Madeleine for a long number of years. I also worked with Madeleine on Clare County Council where she acted as a mentor to me and other councillors.
“I have represented all parts of the county and I have raised issues in the Dáil that have been brought to my attention by Madeleine in recent years,” he said.