TRIPLE TEST FOR THE TAOISEACH

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was today bracing himself for a triple election test which opposition parties insisted amounted to nothing less than a referendum on his leadership.

Mr Cowen again moved to play down the importance of the poll to his future, but Fine Gael and Labour top brass made it clear they scented his political blood.

Fianna Fáil was desperately trying to get its core vote out in a damage limitation exercise aimed at stemming the expected heavy loses in councils across the country and the potential disastrous loss of its precarious Dublin Euro seat.

Opposition parties hope such a defeat, coupled with poor FF placings in the two Dáil by-elections and a voter backlash across the country, would be taken as a withdrawal of the Government’s mandate to rule.

However, a defiant Mr Cowen dismissed such talk – and dire predictions from opinion polls – insisting the vote was centred on local and European concerns and would have no wider impact.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny warned the Taoiseach he would not be able to withstand a major backlash from the electorate.

“The will of the people cannot be arrogantly dismissed by any Taoiseach. The people of Ireland have a choice – more of the same or a new start,” he said

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore called for voters to use this opportunity to smash the conventions of Irish politics.

“These elections give each of us the chance to convert protest into purpose, to start the work of national recovery, by shaking up politics,” he said.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was hoping the party would scrape in ahead in the three-horse race for Dublin’s third Euro berth.

“The anger that people feel at this government has to be turned into action for things to change,” he said.

Mr Cowen insisted his Government would not alter course whatever the results.

“It’s a day when there’s much at stake at local and European level. Fianna Fáil have run a positive and an honest campaign. I believe Ireland’s best interests can only be served by electing MEPs who are unequivocally pro-Europe and pro-enterprise,” he said.

Voters on 19 islands off the west coast yesterday became the first to go to the polls.

The population of Inishbofin, off the Donegal coast, had 64 people entitled to vote and saw a final turnout of 35 voters, or 54.68%.

A total of 264 polls will be held with four constituencies sharing the 12 MEPs and 258 polls to elect 1,627 councillors in 114 local authorities, including city, county, town and borough councils.

The two Dáil by-election results should be known overnight tomorrow, while full local election results are expected to be ready by Sunday night, followed by the Euro contests.