MINISTER OF State Ciarán Cannon and the other former Progressive Democrats in Fine Gael have thrown their weight behind former European Parliament president Pat Cox as the party’s presidential nominee.
Last night they insisted momentum was building behind Mr Cox’s campaign, but senior sources within Fine Gael maintained the selection convention on Saturday would be a “cliff hanger” between MEPs Mairead McGuinness and Gay Mitchell.
Mr Cannon, who was leader of the PDs for a short time before the party’s demise, signed Mr Cox’s nomination papers along with Minister for Finance Michael Noonan. Mr Cannon has been joined by Dún Laoghaire TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Senator Cait Keane, both former PD councillors.
“The role of president is primarily one of communication and Pat Cox is a talented communicator,” Mr Cannon said.
Ms Mitchell-O’Connor said she did not believe Mr Cox’s political past would work against him. “There’s a silent and a solid majority in favour of Pat,” she said. Also backing Mr Cox are Cork North Central TD Dara Murphy and Senator Colm Burke.
However, others insisted Mr Cox would not secure enough support. “The party people will not vote for him,” one source said.
Fine Gael’s electoral college comprises the parliamentary party, councillors and members of its executive council. The parliamentary party is the most crucial component as it has 70 per cent of the vote.
Ms McGuinness has the largest number of TDs who have gone on the record to say they will support her. Ms McGuinness herself has insisted she has the support of at least 40 Fine Gael parliamentarians. They include Minister of State Shane McEntee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Ray Butler, Regina Doherty, Simon Harris, Peter Fitzpatrick, Brendan Griffin and Tom Hayes.
Minister of State Brian Hayes said Gay Mitchell had his backing. “He would give us massive appeal in Dublin particularly, where the party’s vote has lagged behind the national vote.” Mr Mitchell is also supported by former taoiseach John Bruton, Minister of State Lucinda Creighton and Minister for Justice Alan Shatter. Also backing Mr Mitchell are deputies Derek Keating, Alan Farrell, Brian Walsh, and Terence Flanagan.
Avril Doyle has the backing of Olivia Mitchell, John Paul Phelan, Michael Darcy, Liam Twomey and Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe.
Meanwhile, a prominent Fianna Fáil Senator said the party would do worse damage to itself than it suffered in the general election if it decided not to contest the presidential election.
Kerry-based Ned O’Sullivan yesterday strongly urged the party to run a candidate in the election in November, saying that Fianna Fáil needed to have an “urgent debate” on the matter.
Mr O’Sullivan said he had discussed the matter extensively with party supporters and activists and the strong consensus was that the party needed to run a candidate.
“We have never showed the white feather even in the toughest times.
“To do so now would set back the party recovery and reduce Fianna Fáil to the role of bystander in a hugely important national contest,” he said.
“I am calling for an urgent party debate on the issue at national level and I am asking Micheál Martin to facilitate and lead that debate.”
A Fianna Fáil spokesman said the party had already debated the issue at parliamentary party level a number of times and pointed out that Mary McAleese had been chosen as the party candidate only seven weeks prior to the last contested election.