Good news for FF in Donegal North East poll

Updated: 20:06, Tuesday, 16 April 2002

The final TG4/MRBI poll before the election has indicated good news for Fianna Fáil but bad news for Fine Gael.

The poll was carried out in Donegal North East. The constituency is currently represented by two Fianna Fail TD's - Dr Jim McDaid and Cecelia Keaveney - and by Independent Fianna Fáil Deputy Harry Blaney.

It indicates that Fianna Fáil will retain its two seats while Independent Fianna Fáil will also hold its seat but with a different candidate.

Harry Blaney's son Niall is running in place of his father, who is retiring. Fine Gael is running two candidates, Sean Maloney - a former Labour election candidate - and Councillor Bernard McGuinness.

The poll shows Fianna Fáil with a 46% share of the vote, which is up by 4%. Fine Gael is also up 4% but the pollsters say that even though their two candidates almost have a quota between them, transfers between the two are not solid. This indicates that Niall Blaney will hold on to the third seat with 20%.

Sinn Féin's vote remains unchanged at 8% while the Labour vote is down 3% on the 1997 election.

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