Decisive final count for Fianna Fail party

Smith in strong position to take a seat

 

 

By Sean McMahon

 

The 11 count continues here in Cavan tonight where Fianna Fail’s Brendan Smith, who has spent the last 28-years as a Dail Deputy, looks to be in an increasingly strong position to claim one of the last two seats. Niamh Smyth could claim the second and if successful in doing so it could tip the scales nationally where Fianna Fail would become the largest party by a matter of one seat above Sinn Fein.

The transfers of running mate Robbie Gallagher are currently being divided, and as a result things look more favourable for Smith (8,946) and Niamh Smyth (8,176) over the other remaining candidate, Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly (8,050).

This looks set to decisive on a number of levels, both locally and nationally where Sinn Fein sit on 37 seats in the 33rd Dail. If Fianna Fail claim the two seats as expected, it will place the party as the largest in Ireland by a matter of one.

After the sixth count Brendan Smith stands on 7,667 and Niamh Smyth is 6,225 and Robbie Gallagher is on 5,692 and T P O’Reilly, FG stands on 5,499.

The deal breaker will be the elimination of Tate Donnelly who has 4,075 votes and will many go to Gallagher, or who will benefit in Cavan.

Brendan Smith explained that early on in the campaign there was no indication that there was a big surge towards SF, but in the last few days of the campaign is noticed “people saying to men, Brendan – we are voting for SF”.

“People voted for change and they did not regard us as a party that would bring that change in this election”.

“I do not believe that we should go into Government with Sinn Fein – I would be totally opposed to that. What I would like to see as a result of Sinn Fein getting a strong mandate talk to other like minded parties and they transferred strongly to one another and they were advocating on the same issues. I believe they should put together a policy for Government to include the Greens and take on the responsibility of Government and go into Government and deliver on the promises they have made to the people and the promises that have given them very strong results in this election”.

Fine Gael and Sinn Fein had electoral pacts in regard to Seanad By-Elections and Sinn Fein were strong advocates of the Judicial Appointments Bill. “Maybe Fine Gael and Sinn Fein can enter a coalition Government”.

“I would have thought that we would return in the early fifties as regards seats but we were hampered by the confidence and supply agreement with the Fine Gael Party”.

“As an opposition party we would be very strong and responsible”, said Brendan Smith.