RTÉ’S ECONOMICS editor, George Lee, was last night at the centre of speculation that he will be unveiled by Fine Gael as its high-profile candidate for the Dublin South byelection.
Sources close to Lee have confirmed that he has been approached by Fine Gael to stand for the vacancy caused by the death of former Fianna Fáil minister Séamus Brennan.
Lee recently presented a widely watched documentary on RTÉ television about the demise of the Celtic Tiger economy, How We Blew the Boom. In advance of the 2002 general election there was speculation that Lee would run as a Fine Gael candidate but, in the event, he decided not to seek a nomination. In recent weeks there has been renewed speculation he was in discussions with Fine Gael about running in the Dublin South byelection and that has now been confirmed.
The Government’s decision last week to hold the byelection on June 5th, on the same date as the European and local elections, brought the issue to a head. Fine Gael will hold a selection convention tomorrow night.
The identity of the candidate has been kept a secret even from the local party organisation in Dublin South. The printing of posters and election literature for some council candidates has been held back until the name of the byelection candidate can be added.
Speculation about the identity of the candidate has included broadcasters George Hook and David McWilliams, former taoiseach John Bruton, former Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell and economist Jim Power. Lee has been unavailable for comment on the issue in recent weeks, while the RTÉ press office has denied that he is the candidate.
A native of Dublin, Lee is a graduate of University College Dublin and holds an MSc in economics from the London School of Economics. He worked for the Central Bank in Dublin and was later senior economist at Riada Stockbrokers. Lee lives in Templeogue in the Dublin South constituency.
Fianna Fáil will also hold a selection convention in the constituency tomorrow night with Shay Brennan, son of the late Séamus Brennan, the favourite to get the nomination ahead of Senator Maria Corrigan.
Mr Brennan, who works with Anglo Irish Bank, had been reluctant to run because of the controversy over the bank but has had a change of heart in recent times.