ÉAMON Ó CUÍV:FIANNA FÁIL Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, who is contesting the leadership of the party, said yesterday he believed the race was still open and could be "fought to the line".
Acknowledging that rival candidate Micheál Martin had “good, solid support”, he said the unpredictable element was the “middle ground” view.
The Galway West TD, who now holds the three ministries of Social Protection, Defence and Environment, cancelled several public engagements in Galway city however he spoke on local radio.
Senior Fianna Fáil members in the west believe he may perform much better than anticipated in the leadership vote due to extensive backbench support, and may be in pole position to become deputy leader of the party.
Former senator and councillor Nioclás Ó Conchúbhair of Leitir Móir in Connemara said “if the party wants to go back to first principles Ó Cuív is the man”.
Mr Ó Conchúbhair, whose father and uncle were founding members of Fianna Fáil, said Taoiseach Brian Cowen was a “straight and honourable” man but “unlucky” as a party leader.
“Pádraig Pearse stayed in my grandfather’s house. My family fought the Black and Tans out here, my uncle was elected a Sinn Féin councillor, spent time in jail, and subsequently joined Fianna Fáil with de Valera,” Mr Ó Conchúbhair said. “So our loyalty is to Ó Cuív on the basis that he represents the spark of the party.”
Those who proposed Mr Ó Cuív, Galway East TD Micheál Kitt and Sligo-North Leitrim TD Eamon Scanlon, reflected “solid backbench support”, senior party members told The Irish Times.
“Ó Cuív will have enormous support among councillors due to the funding he would have allocated to community and Leader programmes during his time in the department of community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs,” one party source said.
“The councillors can’t vote for him but they will put pressure on the TDs, who in turn need the councillors for support during the forthcoming election.”
Ó Cuív’s former department of community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs was nicknamed “Craggy island” and this image in Dublin “might play against him in spite of his south Dublin roots”, another senior party activist said.
“Most rural deputies outside of Cork will look to Ó Cuív,” the activist suggested. “Brian Lenihan will be seen as having betrayed backbenchers last week, and some perceive him as being too close to the big guys. And Mary Hanafin’s vote will transfer to him in the sense that both are seen as representing the traditional wing.”
Mr Scanlon told RTÉ Radio’s News at One yesterday that the biggest task facing Fianna Fáil after the general election would be the rebuilding of the party, and Mr Ó Cuív had the “energy to do that”.
“He is a person who, in different portfolios, has been in every parish in Ireland . . . every community, he has been there,” he said, adding he was a “good listener”.