The Week in Politics' Mícheál Lehane profiles the candidates standing in the Donegal South West By-Election.
Pearse Doherty - Sinn Féin
Despite increasing the Sinn Féin vote by 10% in Donegal South West in 2007 Pearse Doherty missed out on winning a seat. He was viewed in that election as one of the party’s brightest stars and a win was seen as important to Sinn Féin’s efforts to become a bigger party in the south. In the weeks after the election he did win a seat in the Oireachtas when he was elected as a senator. This gave him a national profile that was boosted further when he took the successful High Court case that forced the Government to hold this by-election. He has pledged to vote against the Budget if elected; saying that cuts would be felt hardest by the people of Donegal South West where there has been a huge rise in unemployment since 2008. A Red C poll found that Doherty looks likely to win 40% of the first preference vote in this election - making him the front runner with a week to go.
Frank McBrearty - Labour Party
Arriving on the political scene last year when he won a council seat after receiving 1,466 votes in the Stranorlar area, the Raphoe publican has given the Labour Party a high profile in the constituency. Given that the party won just 3% of the vote here in 2007 McBrearty faces a big challenge. So far an opinion poll has shown that he could win 13% of the first preference vote, but after transfers, he is in with a chance of finishing ahead of the Fine Gael candidate. If this were to happen it would be regarded as a success for Eamon Gilmore in an area that has always proved barren for the Labour Party. It would also give the party a chance of taking a seat here in a General Election. McBrearty has said he will ‘stand up and fight for the people of Donegal.’ He has a large team of supporters out canvassing every day and his campaign HQ is a converted camper van.
Brian Ó Domhnaill - Fianna Fáil
Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill had to endure much speculation that his party was about to select another candidate before he finally got the nomination, some three days after the by-election was called. Prior to the selection convention, his brother Seamus, who was an independent councillor in Donegal, joined Fianna Fáil. Ó Domhnaill’s message on the campaign trail is that ‘the Budget must be passed.’ Last Wednesday evening, 17 November, he warned that a failure to do so could lead to the IMF having an influence here - and that the ‘clouds of darkness could come down on the country.’ The Red C opinion poll showed Ó Domhnaill on 19% of the first preference vote. This despite earlier optimism in the Fianna Fáil camp that they could win the seat in this the home constituency of the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan. The party won over 50% of the first preference vote here in 2007. A large number of Fianna Fáil councillors, TDs and senators have travelled to Donegal to canvass with Ó Domhnaill. Over 50 visited the constituency in the second weekend of the campaign.
Barry O’Neill - Fine Gael
Barry O’Neill from Ballyshannon was elected to Donegal County Council in 2009 after he polled 2,189 votes. He was the first of the five councillors elected in his area in those elections. O’Neill has said repeatedly during the campaign that ‘a vote for Sinn Féin is a wasted vote because they won’t be in Government.’ He has highlighted that Fine Gael and Labour look likely to form the next Government and argued that a vote for Fine Gael would give voters most influence in the Dáil. His campaign has also focused on the ‘jobs crisis in Donegal’ and the problems facing farmers. Like all the opposition party and independent candidates he wants cancer treatment services improved in the North West.
Thomas Pringle - Independent
Thomas Pringle from the fishing town of Killybegs is an elected member of Donegal County Council. He got 1,501 votes in the local elections last year. He is an independent candidate but was previously a member of Sinn Féin. His campaign has focused on economic recovery. Wind energy, along with the use of wood grown in the country, can ultimately replace oil as the most common fuel to heat homes, he believes. This would create jobs in Donegal and create an industry that would supply both the home and international markets. He has also focused on the need to develop the fishing industry.
Ann Sweeney - New Island Party (Withdrew from the election on Tuesday, 23 November)
Ann Sweeney is taking the unusual step of not doing any door to door canvassing in this by-election. The hotel owner from Dunfanaghy in the northern part of the constituency is instead using the internet and the media to publicise her policies. Her key areas of interest are: education and health. Sweeney says that spending on health and education must be maintained and if elected she would voice her opposition in the Dáil to any cuts to frontline services. The scrapping of several ‘quangos’ to save the Exchequer money is another of her election promises.
