This article is from page 22 of the 2011-02-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny came to town on Saturday last looking for what he described as “a history-making event here in Clare”.
He said he had every confidence in the party’s election strategy in the county and was even optimistic that the Banner County would return a record three Fine Gael TDs to Dáil Eireann.
The leader’s confidence comes amid internal issues in the party in Clare that maintain a fourth candidate should be added that is geographically better placed. Suggestions include poll topper Cllr Joe Cooney from the east, Cllr Martin Conway from the north or former TD Madeleine Taylor Quinn from the west of the constituency.
Deputy Kenny said that the decision not to run candidates in these areas was “all choices the party has to make”.
“Last time we ran four and got two against the opinions of everybody. On this occasion we decided to run three and we have two deputies Pat Breen and Joe Carey and the mayor of Shannon Tony Mulcahy. This is an exceptional team and experienced candidates,” he said while supporting the candidates in Ennis.
“I have made the deliberate policy of putting in place the best teams that we can. This is beyond the scope of any one individual and you need teams of professional competent people who are prepared to make decisions in a courageous and in a fair fashion. So I look to Clare and its electorate to judge fairly not only the merits of one candidate but the quality and the power of our plan.
“I am happy that the trio of Pat Breen, Joe Carey and Tony Mulcahy are on the verge of making history here. Their challenge and our supporters challenge is to translate our five point plan and what it means in every town and every town land in County Clare,” he added. “I have great faith and belief in these candidates,” the Fine Gael leader said, but he would not say if that faith extended to making one of them a minister should he become Taoiseach in the next month.
There is currently no Clare TD on the Fine Gael front bench.