The spin doctors of Fine Gael have made a mess of things again

IT seems the so-called spin doctors of Fine Gael have made a mess of things again, this time by cocking up the selection of candidates for the next general election at the Dublin Bay North convention. 

No matter what construction the party tries to put on it, the reality is that Jobs Minister Richard Bruton was not selected and has been added to the ticket, an ignominious turn of events by any political yardstick.

Not for the first time, election strategists at Fine Gael HQ, who issued a directive to pick two candidates, and Mr Bruton, who has represented the reshaped five-seat constituency for over three decades, have all ended up with a large dollop of egg on their faces.

Whether the 30% gender requirement explains the selection of Stephanie Regan is a moot point. The burning question is why Cllr Naoise Ó Muirí outvoted Mr Bruton to contest the impending election?

There is no predicting what can happen when two three-seaters are amalgamated and, inevitably, personal tensions and geographical issues arise when three candidates contest a five-seat constituency.

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