ENDA’S CURIOUS NEW CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
AS THE Fine Gael wing of the Coalition attempts to solidify its collapsing support base Enda, or rather the Taoiseach’s, acolytes are starting to keep some strange company again.
So who are the political curios and strangers whose comfort Enda may have to seek should John Halligan, like the board game Buckaroo!, bolt?
NOEL GREALISH
CONSTITUENCY - GALWAY WEST THE PRICE The canny exProgressive Democrat, who was a key supporter of Michael McDowell, would require serious constituency investment and a junior ministry. THE PROBLEM Grealish is very comfortable where he is now. What he wants, he gets from ministers. Too clever to become the next Independent sacrifice unless a very good offer is made but if he leaps, he will stay.
MATTIE McGRATH
CONSTITUENCY – TIPPERARY
THE PRICE Parity with Michael Lowry when it comes to securing and getting the credit for investment into Tipperary.
THE PROBLEM Mattie is, ahem, a somewhat mercurial character who likes getting into political scrapes. Fianna Fáil pedigree means he would be as at ease with supporting Enda and Lord Ross as Halligan. Would be in for a short not a long time.
Dr MICHAEL HARTY
CONSTITUENCY – CLARE THE PRICE Elected as a champion of the rural GP, he would not be averse to a junior ministry in health and real movement when it comes to GP contracts.
THE PROBLEM Somewhat unworldly in the ways of politics and has an independent streak. Rather like Halligan, he might not comprehend that the rules say: Once bought you stay bought.
DANNY AND MICHAEL HEALYRAE
CONSTITUENCY – KERRY THE PRICE Though you would get two Healy-Raes for the price of one, that could still run into a billion. Any Healy-Rae deal would make the famous Tony Gregory deal with Charlie Haughey look like a pound-shop affair. THE PROBLEM Outside of the issue of cost, their earthy views on matters as diverse as God, climate change and drink-driving would create a furore a week for our embattled coalition. It doesn’t help that they are more Fianna Fáil than FF themselves.
MICHAEL COLLINS
CONSTITUENCY – CORK SOUTH WEST THE PRICE In election 2016 he decided to run on a ticket of being the Healy-Rae of West Cork. THE PROBLEM Accident-prone and just survived one major controversy over writing a letter to a judge regarding a convicted sex offender on the basis that it was a ‘letter of explanation’. He hasn’t impressed in Leinster House.
STEPHEN DONNELLY
CONSTITUENCY – WICKLOW THE PRICE A full ministry in a senior economic role and some nice treats for north Wicklow would do. THE PROBLEM Perceived to be egotistical and selfpromoting, and there are quite enough of those knocking about now. Seen as being too much of a sole trader to be reliable and surrounded by too much of a George Lee factor for FG ease.
MICHAEL LOWRY
CONSITUENCY –TIPPERARY THE PRICE It’s time for Fine Gael to make an honest woman of Michael given they are already openly sharing the same political bed. THE PROBLEM That old Fine Gael respectability gene means that even whilst all that Moriarty Tribunal stuff is a small war from a long time ago, they still fear reputational damage.