Both sides in Fine Gael leadership campaign confident of victory

Both sides in the Fine Gael leadership campaign say that they are confident of victory when the parliamentary party meets on Wednesday to consider a motion of no confidence in John Bruton. His two challengers, Jim Mitchell and Michael Noonan, said in a statement that there was a groundswell of support for their position. However, Mr Bruton said that the leadership issue had been dealt with a short time ago and he believed he would comfortably carry the day. Mr Mitchell and Mr Noonan said that the figures showed a clear majority in favour of the motion. They met earlier today to review the level of support in favour of their motion of no confidence in the Fine Gael leader.

Meanwhile, senior Fine Gael party figures have been consulting their constituents, with just over 48 hours to go before the leadership challenge. Many Fine Gael politicians have been uncontactable or have said that they are undecided. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Bruton said that the leadership issue had been decided in November.

Earlier today, both Mr Noonan and Mr Mitchell predicted continuing decline for Fine Gael if Mr Bruton remained as leader. However, Mr Bruton criticised their negative comments and said that both men should not be talking down the party. He said that he expects to win Wednesday's no confidence vote by a significant majority. Following the vote, he said that his objective was to be a unified leader and that he would not take a hostile attitude towards those people whom, he said, were now making a mistake.

As the debate within Fine Gael continues, senior politicians in the party have been declaring their allegiance. In the West, Enda Kenny, TD for Mayo, and Denis Naughten, TD for Roscommon-Longford, said that they would be supporting Mr Bruton. Michael Ring, also TD for Mayo, said that he still has not made up his mind and will be taking soundings in the constituency over the next two days. He said that he believed the party organisation should be widely consulted to establish its view on the leadership challenge. Ulick Burke, TD for Galway East, has said that he will be supporting Michael Noonan. He said that he hoped that John Bruton would consider stepping down, as he believed he had been unable to capitalise on the support for the party that existed at grass roots level.

Pádraig McCormack, Galway West's only Fine Gael TD, said that he would not be making any statement on the leadership challenge and declined to indicate in which way he would be voting. He said that he would make his intentions known at the parliamentary party meeting. Fintan Coogan, the party's Senator for Galway, also declined to say what way he would be voting when contacted by RTÉ News. He said that he would be consulting with party members during the day.

John Cushnihan has said that he would be supporting the no confidence vote in John Bruton. The Munster MEP said that, while John Bruton had been an exceptional Taoiseach and always displayed the highest standards of decency and integrity, he had not been able to translate that into being an effective leader of the Opposition. Mr Cushnihan said that the latest move had wounded Mr Bruton mortally and, in his own interests and in the interests of the party, he should resign with dignity. He added that, in any subsequent leadership challenge, he would be voting for Michael Noonan. Jimmy Deenihan said that he would be supporting Michael Noonan in any leadership election. The party's Deputy for Kerry said that he hoped that a "dream-team" of Michael Noonan as leader and Jim Mitchell as deputy leader would emerge over the coming days. Paul Coughlan, the Killarney Senator, said that he has not yet finalised his position.

Both camps say that they have enough votes to secure victory at Wednesday's parliamentary party meeting. Mr Bruton has said that the issue had been decided in November and, if it was to be reopened on the basis of one opinion poll, then no future leader of Fine Gael would be secure. He argued that, as party leader, he had delivered electoral success in national, European and local elections. He said that, in the next General Election, he could present himself as a better alternative to the Taoiseach than anyone who had not done the job. 72 deputies, senators and Fine Gael MEPs will decide the issue on Wednesday.

The challenge was announced yesterday by two front benchers, Michael Noonan and Jim Mitchell. Deputy Noonan predicted that Mr Bruton would stand down before the vote on Wednesday. He said that Fine Gael was going nowhere and unless Mr Bruton goes, he would close the party down. Jim Mitchell said that members of the party's front bench were being stifled by what he called Mr Bruton's democratic centralism.