Voting within all parties took place in Leinster House this week to fill two important positions, or plum jobs - but so low was the interest that even the participants paid little attention. Once they had secured their nominations, they considered their jobs done. The Seanad by-election, where the franchise is confined to members of the Oireachtas, will fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of Labour's Pat Gallagher last August and the death six weeks later of FF's Paddy McGowan. The results will be announced next Friday.
Because the Government has a majority, its two candidates will walk home. Such was the competition for the nominations - and the not unusual situation whereby the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, appeared to be giving the nod to several candidates at once - that the election was delayed far longer than expected. Although the result is a foregone conclusion, all six candidates canvassed their party colleagues and, more in hope than expectation of some slippage on the party front, the independents, too. Voting took place at the FF, FG and Labour parliamentary party meetings on Wednesday. The whips were on hand to ensure a full turnout and to witness the ballot papers.
But why did the opposition parties bother? As is the case with FF, it's all about the next general election. Any raising of profile now will help - not only in securing a Dail nomination but with the electorate, generally - so there was considerable competition for the Seanad contests.
The six are people to watch for the future. The two new senators will be Jim Glennon of Dublin North and Sean O Freigheil of Kildare. FG ran Bernard McGuinness of Donegal North East, already selected for the general election, and J. J. Mannion of Galway West, both of whom addressed their party meeting in Leinster House on Wednesday. Labour ran Declan Bree of Sligo and Jim Townsend of Carlow.