TD struggling to retain seat-poll

The precarious electoral position of the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, in Galway West is underlined…

The precarious electoral position of the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, in Galway West is underlined by the findings of an opinion poll published yesterday. The Raidio na Gaeltachta-commissioned poll indicates that she may again shave to fight it out for the last of five seats in the constituency.

The only solace that can be "got from the findings for the former Minister for Justice is that it shows party support climbing to 50 per cent, raising the possibility of it securing three seats.

The poll by the Market Research Bureau of Ireland showed, however, that Senator Frank Fahey, who was pipped by Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn in the 1992 general election, is in a much stronger position despite losing half of his electoral base in a constituency revision.

The poll found that the TDs likely to be returned are: Mr Eamon O Cuiv and Mr Fahey (FF), Mr Padraic McCormack (FG), Mr Michael D. Higgins (Lab) and Mr Bobby Molloy (PD.)