‘Keep ministers’ Mercs out of Donegal’

FIANNA FÁIL needs to keep “ministers and their Mercs” out of Donegal South West if it is to have any chance of winning the by-election there, a senior party source has said.

“Keep the ministerial cars out of it. If you put people up there from the current Cabinet, they’ll lose it,” he said.

Campaigning in the by-election is already well under way ahead of the November 25 vote, and the favourite is the Sinn Féin candidate, Senator Pearse Doherty.

With FF’s support levels at record lows recently, few are giving its candidate, Senator Brian O Domhnaill any chance of winning.

But the FF source said the party could boost its chances by “keeping ministers and the Taoiseach away from the constituency”.

Brian Cowen and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan attended Mr O Domhnaill’s selection convention on Sunday, as did Social Protection Minister Eamon O Cuiv, who has been appointed campaign manager.

But that was a party event where the bulk of those present were FF members, making it very different to the campaign trail.

And the sight of a deeply unpopular Cabinet arriving in their “Ministerial Mercs” would hinder rather than help Mr O Domhnaill chances, the source said.

But FF headquarters appears intent on using ministers in the campaign, judging by a meeting of the parliamentary party last night.

Mr Cowen and Mr O Cuiv told the meeting that ministers would both canvass and be made available to meet interest groups in the constituency. Both men also requested that all the party’s TDs and senators travel to Donegal over the next two weekends to canvass.

However, it’s understood Mr O Cuiv requested that those travelling “keep it low key”.

One TD characterised Mr O Cuiv’s comments as: “No one in big fancy hotels. No flash. The local FF organisation will open their homes to anybody who needs a place to stay.”

Mr O Cuiv also told the meeting to knock on the door of “every supporter, every disaffected supporter and every former supporter” in a bid to get the FF vote out.