It may be only going through the motions, since Fianna Fail is certain to win both seats, but our parties are gearing up for the Seanad by-elections, due within a month or so. Only members of the Oireachtas can vote and the writs should be moved next week. All are concentrating on picking candidates who, with a better profile, could take a Dail seat next time. There is huge lobbying in FF, but less enthusiasm in FG and Labour. The PDs won't be contesting because when the Government was formed the deal with FF gave them four Seanad seats.
FF is looking at candidates from Galway East, Dublin North, Sligo-Leitrim and Longford-Roscommon. The lucky pair will be chosen next week. FG is expected to pick Clifden solicitor J.J. Mannion and Cllr Bernard McGuinness of Inishowen.
Labour's campaign has been thrown into disarray by the defection to FG of one of their two candidates, former senator Sean Moloney. He says he left because he had been struggling for so long and getting less and less support from Dublin. There were no indications that things would get better and his friends in FG wanted him.
But did he accept the nomination to run with Declan Bree for the Seanad seats left vacant by the resignation of Labour's Pat Gallagher and the death of FF's Paddy McGowan? Yes, but with the proviso that his qualification for the panels be checked. He didn't qualify, but the next thing, he says, he read in the papers he was a candidate. Now he will be seeking a Dail nomination.
Other Fine Gaelers in Donegal North East also want a nomination, not least Cllr McGuinness. The party has no seat there at present.