FG’s Hayes admits Tipp strategy may be risky

A SENIOR Fine Gael member admitted yesterday he is worried about his party’s “high-risk strategy” of running two candidates in his three-seat constituency.

Tipperary South’s outgoing TD Tom Hayes is being joined on the Fine Gael ticket for the election by Clonmel-based businessman Michael Murphy — the first time the party has run two candidates since the constituency was reduced from four seats to three.

The decision on electoral strategy was made by party headquarters, the Fine Gael road safety spokesman and former parliamentary party chairman said at his campaign launch in Clonmel.

“It is a high risk strategy that we have gone on but, with the wind on our back, I think it will work and I hope it will work.

“It is risky but in politics you have to take risks.”

He said Fine Gael won 0.8 of a quota at the 2007 election when he was returned for the third time, and had never achieved much more than a full single quota of votes.

Asked if he feared a split in the vote might result in the loss of his seat, he said: “I don’t intend losing my seat but of course it is a worry. With two half-quotas, you don’t get a seat, so of course it is risky.”

He wouldn’t say if he agreed with the national executive’s decision.

“I didn’t question it because I felt they’re the people who decide it and whatever the party wanted I would go along with.”