Heavy hitters head up fight for FF seat

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern rolled out the heavy hitters yesterday by charging Brian Cowen and Willie O’Dea with the task of holding on to the Fianna Fáil seat vacated by Charlie McCreevy.

After relenting to Fine Gael and Labour’s demands to hold the double by-election before St Patrick’s Day, the Taoiseach immediately appointed the Minister for Finance and Minister for Defence as director and deputy director of elections in Kildare North.

Despite Mr Ahern’s expressed preference for the by-elections in Meath and Kildare North to be held after Easter, polling day was announced yesterday as March 11 when the writs were moved by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.