Polling date could also be father’s day

ANOTHER major canvass is likely to be interrupted by the stork’s arrival and this time it could come on election day.

Simon Coveney, who is predicted to top the poll is Cork South Central, is soon to become a father again.

The outgoing TD’s wife, Ruth, is expecting the couple’s second child very shortly and the deputy said that if she goes into labour early, like her first birth, he’s very likely to be in the maternity suite either just before or on polling day, February 25.

“If that’s the case, it looks like I’ll be in the hospital for a 48-hour spell,” Simon said.

He’s the latest in a line of politicos to face the birth of a child during the election canvass.

Senator Michael McCarthy (Labour) and Cllr Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) were both in Cork University Maternity Hospital when their respective wives both gave birth of Valentine’s Day.

But Simon Coveney is a past master at coordinating a campaign from a maternity ward. “Our first daughter, Beth, was born on June 2, a few days before the European Elections in 2009. I was the Fine Gael director of elections at the time and I was trying to organise the campaign and canvassing from Cork University Maternity Hospital.”

The 38-year-old said between the imminent birth and the election campaign it was a “very exciting time” for him and Ruth. Simon said he was anxious that his wife, 34, who works for the IDA, gets as must rest as possible in the next few days.

He added that he was very encouraged by the party’s showing in yesterday’s Irish Examiner Red C poll.

“We now have a realistic chance of winning (FG) three seats. Everybody on the Fine Gael team is asking that votes be given to the whole team. I think with 40% of the vote three seats is very achievable.”