GOVERNMENT CHIEF whip John Curran says there will be “no more men overboard” when asked about possible future defections that might affect the Government’s fragile majority.
Briefing the media on the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting yesterday, Mr Curran insisted no one in attendance had suggested a general election should take place at this time.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen addressed the meeting briefly, speaking about the four-year budgetary plan. Mr Curran said Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators viewed the budget and the four-year plan “as a fairly daunting task”.
Mr Curran said Mr Cowen also briefed on the party’s plans for the Donegal South West byelection.
The Taoiseach said Donegal had been traditionally favourably disposed to Fianna Fáil and he “appealed for support from Oireachtas members who would have time maybe at weekends . . . to contribute to the campaign”, Mr Curran said.
He said the involvement of MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher would be important as he was a “formidable vote-getter”. “My understanding is Pat the Cope will support whatever candidate is selected.”
The vacancy arose following the election of Mr Gallagher to the European Parliament in June last year.
Galway East TD Noel Treacy, who was elected in 1982 the last time a government was successful in a byelection, predicted at the meeting that Fianna Fáil could win this one.
The parliamentary party meeting was not well attended and did not last very long. It took place on Thursday this week because Ministers delivered pre-budget briefings to TDs and Senators on Tuesday and Wednesday.
At the most lively session, many TDs told Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív they could not see a budget that included cuts to the old-age pension being passed.
