FF all set for a snap election

DO the Fianna Fáilers know something the rest of us don’t. Lagging behind in the polls, the party of confidence and supply is far better prepared for a surprise election than Fine Gael, with nominations closed for 33 of the 40 constituencies, and election conventions fully completed in 30 of those.

The only constituencies yet to begin the nominations process are Cork North Central, Dublin Rathdown, Galway West, LaoisOffaly, Limerick County, Meath East and Wexford.

And by contrast, following a pre-Christmas rush, Fine Gael have concluded just over 20 conventions. One FG source said: ‘With gender quotas and the rest of that mess we could come unstuck very swiftly. How are we going to sort out things like getting Michael Lowry Junior nominated in Tipperary?’

A FF strategist said: ‘Fine Gael are so arrogant they think they don’t even have to bother with candidates to win the election.’