Fianna Fáil eyes a seat in every area in 2016
While increasing its representation across Dublin, it was strongly outpolled in the city centre by Sinn Féin, which took twice the number of seats on offer. Fianna Fáil was on course to be the biggest party in Fingal but will still be outnumbered by independents.
Party leader Micheál Martin appears to have prevented any immediate threats to his leadership with the weekend result, following a period in which its recovery was — in the words of deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív — “becalmed”.
Mr Martin said at the weekend he was “very pleased” with the results but that the party “still has a journey to go and we are very conscious of that”.
He said political comebacks were “not immediate” but that “the best part of this election for the party is the emergence of a lot of new talent nationwide which will position us very well for the next general election”.
Other TDs said there are new Fianna Fáil councillors in each constituency of the country who will make strong candidates to contest Dáil seats.
Although Fianna Fáil was emphasising that it is now likely to be the biggest party in local government, its share of the vote — at 25% — remained the same as it was in the 2009 local elections.
This prompted the Carlow Kilkenny TD and chairman of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee John McGuinness to call for a “new direction” for the party.
“If that is not recognised then certainly there will be a challenge for the Fianna Fáil leadership,” he said.
Mr McGuinness — whose son Andrew topped the poll in Kilkenny City-East — admitted he still had “leadership ambitions”, but he is unlikely to have enough support from the parliamentary party to challenge Mr Martin after the weekend results.
The party was last night emphasising its gains in cities like Limerick — where it is on course to regain a foothold following its near wipeout in the last local election, when it won just one seat.
Its Limerick TD, Niall Collins, whose cousin James Collins topped the poll in the Limerick City West area, said it was a significant election for the party.
“Below the headline of Sinn Féin winning seats in more areas is the fact we are gaining right across the country and particularly in Dublin,” he said.
“The election will be a platform for us into the next general election and an opportunity for us to identify our Dáil candidates.”
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