The Minister for Health has predicted that Fianna Fáil will not lose its seat in the crucial three-seat constituency of Kerry North at the general election. Mr Martin made his remarks during a tour of health facilities in the constituency, where an opinion poll has indicated that the party will lose its seat to the Sinn Féin candidate, Mr Martin Ferris.
According to the TG4/MRBI poll last October, Fianna Fáil candidates Mr Tom McEllistrim at 17 per cent and Senator Dan Kiely at 12 per cent were well behind Mr Ferris, who was forecast to get 23 per cent of the first-preference vote.
Sitting TDs Mr Dick Spring (Labour) and Mr Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael), each at 24 per cent, look set to retain their seats.
Mr Martin yesterday refused to countenance the possibility of Fianna Fáil losing the seat now held by Mr Denis Foley, who is not contesting the next election. "Fianna Fáil has been good to North Kerry and to Kerry as a whole. We are going to win a seat in North Kerry," he said.
Mr Martin's visit follows a visit to Kerry by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in November, during and after which Government funding for a number of local projects was announced.
Every member of the Cabinet will visit Kerry North between now and the election, according to Senator Kiely, and each one will "bring something". The Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, was next on the list of Cabinet visitors. There were many groups in the constituency looking for funding for sport and tourism projects, he added.
Also scheduled, according to the senator, were the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern. Each would be "bringing something for the constituency", he said.
Senator Kiely said he was confident that Fianna Fáil would hold the Kerry North seat. He was critical of Sinn Féin, saying that the "Colombian affair" had not been explained fully. He felt that this would damage Sinn Féin.
Mr Martin yesterday announced 16 extra beds for Tralee General Hospital. He denied that this was part of Fianna Fáil's electioneering strategy, saying it was a response to a submission from the Southern Health Board to the Department of Health.