Oversold as an “economic messiah”

FINE GAEL’S big mistake was to sell George Lee as an “economic messiah” who was going to solve all the country’s problems according to Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan.

The “over-selling” of their candidate when he was elected to Dublin-South last June was always going to lead to disappointment for Mr Lee, the minister claimed.

As Fianna Fáil quietly delighted in the loss of what was perceived as their opposition’s biggest star, the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, said it was too early to contemplate a bye-election to fill the seat left vacant by Mr Lee in Dublin South.