FIANNA Fail has held its selection conventions in all but three of the 41 Dail constituencies in readiness for the general election. The three include: Laois-Offaly, where two FF deputies are retiring (Liam Hyland to Europe and Ger Connolly); Donegal South East, where Pat the Cope Gallagher is being forced, the hierarchy hopes, to decide between Leinster House and Europe; and Longford-Roscommon, where frontrunner Albert Reynolds has been detained in London on personal business over the past six weeks.
Albert, upon whom an honorary Doctor of Law is being conferred at the University of Aberdeen this morning, has yet to declare his intentions. Some believe his son Philip, whose media performances from London impressed many, will seek the nomination and that Albert will step down.
The former Taoiseach, who is off to New York next week for a charity function and plans to address a conference on conflict resolution in Columbia before Christmas, told Quidnunc no decision has been made, that the constituency wants him and that it's all up in the air.
Senior party sources say no one knows the true situation but there is speculation that, as Albert wants the FF nomination for the Presidency, he knows he would be better off inside the parliamentary party, where the vote is taken, than outside.
Indeed, some commentators now believe the debacle in London may help him. It wouldn't be the first time the hard-done-by factor led to electoral victory and if the baddies are the British, as in this case, so much the better.