DUBLIN SOUTH EAST:FINE GAEL's director of elections in Dublin South East, Paddy Hayes, has told party activists not to encourage voters to give their preferences to Labour or Fianna Fáil.
Instead he has advised canvassers that if asked for guidance they should tell voters “to give their next preference, after voting the FG ticket, to Paul Sommerville”. Mr Somerville is running as an Independent in the constituency.
In an e-mail to Fine Gael activists Mr Hayes said: “Comrades, while it is far too early to be certain it now appears possible that the party candidates may have a surplus of votes to distribute next Friday.
“In any event it is always useful to be aware of the strategic issues at stake and where asked to be able to point party supporters in the best direction with regard to their preferences.
“In Dublin South East we see Paul Sommerville as being closest to the party in terms of policy and thinking.
“We think that it is the FG party’s best interests not to encourage support for either Labour or Fianna Fáil.
“If asked for guidance, please tell voters to give their next preference, after voting the FG ticket, to Paul Sommerville.
“Thanks. Please forward to like-minded voters.”
The e-mail is stamped with the Fine Gael logo and carries Mr Hayes’s e-mail address at the market research company CST International, of which he is managing director.
A spokesman for Fine Gael declined to comment last night when asked about the e-mail.
Mr Hayes is the husband of former Progressive Democrats senator Helen Keogh, who moved to Fine Gael and contested the 2002 general election for the party in Dún Laoghaire but failed to be elected.
In an online profile, Mr Hayes describes himself as “first and foremost an entrepreneur” but says the “second string” to his bow is writing. He has published two novels.
Mr Hayes lists himself as a non-executive director of three companies: Freeman Group of Richardson, Texas, Worldwide Resource Ltd of London and Wines Direct based in Westmeath.