COALITION PARTNERS Fianna Fáil and the Green Party refused yesterday to urge transfers to one another in the European elections in the Dublin constituency.
Fianna Fáil candidate Eoin Ryan MEP said that, after voting for himself and his party running-mate Lord Mayor Eibhlín Byrne, people should transfer to "pro-European candidates". He added: "That could include [ Fine Gael candidate] Gay Mitchell, that could include other candidates who are very, very pro-Europe."
Asked if he would specifically urge that third preferences go to the Greens, Mr Ryan said: "Well, the Taoiseach has already said it, and I have no problem with that."
Asked if he was giving a clear endorsement to the Greens as distinct from "not having a problem" with them, he continued: "It's a clear endorsement, whether it's the Greens or Fine Gael or Proinsias De Rossa, that they can vote for any of those parties, that's what I'm saying."
A similar stance was taken by the other Fianna Fáil candidate, Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlín Byrne who told Newstalk she would not be giving any advice on transfers, because voters were "sick of being told what to to".
Green Senator Deirdre de Burca, also refused to give a specific endorsement to her party's Coalition partners. "I'm not going to encourage the voters to transfer to anybody in particular because, especially in this election, voters are going to make up their own minds. I would predict that novel transfer patterns will emerge."
Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell MEP, who was attending the launch of an "election roadshow" by the European Parliament office with Mr Ryan, was asked for whom he would be urging transfers.
"Well, I hope that Fine Gael supporters will give their number two to Proinsias De Rossa and then continue their preferences against the Government parties. I think this is an opportunity to punish the Government parties and I think they deserve punishment," he said.
Labour's Proinsias De Rossa said in relation to transfers: "We are urging voters to vote for non-Government parties." This could be in any order the voters themselves decided.
Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins, who was also at the "roadshow" launch, said he would await the final list of candidates at close of nominations on Monday before taking any decision on transfers.
Meanwhile, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said second-preference votes should be given to those who shared the vision of "a smart, green economy: There are people in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, even Labour who want energy efficiency".
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD said at Ennis, Co Clare: "We would require a party decision in relation to that matter. We had our party convention, there were no motions down to that effect."