The normally-sedate election for six university seats in Seanad Éireann has erupted into sharp controversy over allegations by Independent Senators that Fianna Fáil is seeking to undermine the electoral process for party political purposes. Deaglán de Bréadún, Political Correspondent, reports.
University of Dublin/Trinity College Senator Shane Ross said Fianna Fáil had launched a "fully-fledged" assault on the Independent university seats. His fellow Independent, Senator Joe O'Toole from the National University panel, said Fianna Fáil in particular was engaged in a "power grab", which he described as "nauseating".
Senator Ross named Trinity contender Seán O'Connor, grandson of former taoiseach Seán Lemass, and National University candidate Dr John Hillery, son of former president Patrick Hillery, as the two candidates who were the focus of this alleged Fianna Fáil campaign.
Responding, Dr Hillery told The Irish Times: "I am not a member of any political party and I haven't been a member, though I am obviously always sympathetic towards Fianna Fáil."
A letter in support of Dr Hillery from Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen on Department of Finance notepaper states that "Fianna Fáil's numbers will be tight in the next Senate and the Party needs to elect as many supporters on as many different panels as possible." Dr Hillery is also endorsed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Asked to comment, Dr Hillery said: "I would be broadly supportive of Fianna Fáil politics but at the same time I would not be taking the Fianna Fáil whip."
He pointed out he had "some reservations" about hospital co-location and believed that the programme for government "should go a bit further" on issues like disability.
Seán O'Connor, an acknowledged member of Fianna Fáil, said: "I am running as an Independent candidate in this election". If elected on the Trinity panel he would not take the Fianna Fáil whip, but he added: "If they offer a deal which involves reforming the Seanad, I will support the Government."
Senator Ross said: "There is a very well-organised attempt by Fianna Fáil to place party members or supporters in traditionally Independent university seats. This is the first time it has ever happened and, if successful, would make the case for university representation meaningless." He added: "This is a fully-fledged assault by Fianna Fáil on the only Independent seats in the Seanad." He pointed out that Ógra Fianna Fáil was emailing supporters on behalf of Mr O'Connor, who is a founder-member of the party's youth wing.
Senator O'Toole said: "I am appalled at the assault now being made by the political parties, especially the main Government party, on the university seats." He added: "The parties already control 53 of the 60 Seanad seats. The power grab now for the only truly Independent seats in the Seanad election is nauseating. I am confident that voters will give the political parties their answer on this one."
John Kennedy, who is running on the National University panel as an officially endorsed Fine Gael candidate with the intention of taking the party whip if elected, said: "Dr Hillery will quite clearly, in my view, support Fianna Fáil on nearly every issue in the Seanad, if not all.
"Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen would not endorse a candidate who is going to oppose Fianna Fáil on policy. In his case, I would question why he describes himself as an Independent," Mr Kennedy said.
Senator Brendan Ryan, leader of the Labour group in the outgoing Seanad, said he would continue to be a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) if re-elected to his NUI seat.
"All members of the PLP plus many members of the Labour Party are active in my campaign but I'm funding it myself," he said.
Prof Ivana Bacik, also a Labour member, said she would not be taking the party whip if she won one of the three Trinity seats. "If elected I will not follow any political party line, in keeping with the traditional independence of Trinity senators," she said.
She added that there was no Labour campaign on her behalf: "I have declared my party membership on my literature and website in order to be fully transparent with people, not because I would feel in any way bound by Labour policy if elected."
The total number of senators is 60, including 11 appointed by the Taoiseach, six chosen by university graduates and 43 elected by a combination of local councillors, TDs and outgoing senators.
In the last local elections in 2004, Fianna Fáil won only 302 council seats compared with 293 for Fine Gael.