Fianna Fáil split on ‘rogue candidate’ Ó Cuív’s possible run for Presidency
MYSTERY surrounds the intentions of the putative Áras candidate Eamon Ó Cuív of Fianna Fáil.
His party remains seriously split, with elements close to the leadership warning that ‘he is a rogue candidate’.
However, within Micheál Martin’s increasingly divided party, Ó Cuív, right, has significant support beyond the front bench.
One internal supporter said: ‘It is not beyond the bounds that you could have an abortion-style split in FF with the head saying No and the TDs saying Yes.’
Though Mr Ó Cuív has yet to publicly comment on his position, one of those close to him said: ‘He is sanguine about his decision. He has let the hare slip and is now sitting with his feet up, enjoying watching the hounds bark.’
Mr Ó Cuív is not expected to have any difficulties in securing a nomination. He is believed to have the tacit support of Michael Fitzmaurice, the influential rural Independent, who is attempting to gather the 20 required signatures from within the Oireachtas to nominate one candidate. In an intriguing development, Dragons’ Den investor and former Presidential candidate Seán Gallagher has re-entered the debate, though he has yet to confirm his plans. However, much significance is being attached to an e-mail sent to Communications Minister Denis Naughten and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy in which he referred to the ‘upcoming Presidential Election and the Litir Um Thoghchán (letter to the voters) scheme which, as you know, provides free post for a leaflet from each nominated candidate’. Mr Gallagher said that seven years ago: ‘I formally proposed a measure to the then Minister, Phil Hogan, which, if implemented, would have saved approximately €10 million of public funds.’
This, he said, had been done ‘in the context of the 2011 Presidential election where, under the Presidential election entitlements, every candidate was provided with free postage for their individual leaflet which was then distributed by An Post to every voter in the country’.
Mr Gallagher said: ‘In order to reduce the huge costs associated with this scheme and in the interest of reducing the impact of such leaflets on the environment, my formal proposal to the then Minister was that one leaflet, combining the details of all nominated election candidates, be issued instead’.
He said: ‘The savings for the Exchequer are staggering. Just using the estimates provided to me in 2011, the cost to the Exchequer would have been approximately €1.66 million as opposed to €11.63 million – thereby creating a saving of almost €10m.’
In his proposal, Mr Gallagher added: ‘I urge you to act now to eliminate such waste and ensure these funds are instead directed to the care of the most vulnerable in our society.’