The three Fianna Fail TDs in the Cork South Central constituency, al Martin, the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, Mr Batt O'Keeffe and Mr John Dennehy have been selected unanimously at a ail party convention to contest the next general election. Fianna Fail said the early convention was in keeping with party policy, but both Fine Gael and Labour suggested it was more a reflection of party nerves, given recent events.
A Fine Gael TD in Cork North Central, Mr Bernard Allen, said Fianna Fail had underestimated the anger of the people and that the nomination of Mr Hugh O'Flaherty to the European Investment Bank would not go unpunished by the electorate.
The early convention, he added, was a sure sign Fianna Fail was running scared.
Former Labour TD Mr Toddy O'Sullivan said he would be seeking to regain his Dail seat at the expense of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. He didn't expect much opposition from the Progressive Democrats, he added.