The TDs Facing A Battle

CONSTITUENCY REFORM:With just eight constituencies untouched by changes to seats or boundaries by the Constituency Commission report published yesterday, TDs from all parties are concerned about keeping their seats in the next general election.

A stoical Michael McGrath of Fianna Fáil probably put it best when he said: “You always have  winners and losers when these boundary reports come out.”

Some TDs leaving Leinster House to spend the weekend in their constituencies yesterday were contemplating crossing county boundaries to introduce themselves to potential voters.

Others were trying to get used to exotic new names such as “Dublin Bay South”.

Here are the 13 TDs most vulnerable to the boundary changes:

1. Paschal Donohoe (FG)

Dublin Central

Donohoe seems most likely to come under pressure when Dublin Central loses a seat to become a three-seater.

Labour Minister of State Joe Costello once joked that he expected a vote from President Michael D Higgins when he moved into Áras an Uachtaráin. The Phoenix Park has been controversially cut out of the constituency, however. Independent Maureen O’Sullivan could come under pressure if Sinn Féin is on the march.

2. Colm Keaveney (Lab)

Galway East

Galway East loses a chunk of its territory and some 20,500 voters to neighbouring Roscommon- Galway. The move from four to three seats creates volatility in the constituency. Tuam-based Colm Keaveney of Labour and Paul Connaughton jnr of Fine Gael, whose heartland is transferred, will feel dispirited.

The Connaughton brand remains strong in the area, however. Ciarán Cannon may find being a junior minister a disadvantage when the votes are counted and may have his work cut out for him.

3. Jerry Buttimer (FG)

Cork South Central

Fine Gael’s Jerry Buttimer, who loses his Bishopstown heartland, is not the only Cork South Central representative with a job of work to do in what will become a four-seater. Labour’s Ciarán Lynch could also struggle here.

Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath, who shares the constituency with his leader Micheál Martin, yesterday said the party faced “a very serious challenge to hold two seats” next time.

4. Tom Fleming (Ind)

Kerry

The Constituency Commission has decided that the “kingdom”, with a population of more than 145,500, should be united into one five-seat constituency.

The consensus in Leinster House yesterday was that Independent Tom Fleming would lose out. The publican, formerly of Fianna Fáil, secured 6,416 first preferences. He was not far behind Independent Michael Healy-Rae, however, and ended up ahead of him on the final count.

5. Frank Feighan (FG)

Roscommon South Leitrim

Still resented by Roscommon Hospital protesters, Boyle-based Frank Feighan of Fine Gael would appear to have most to lose when his constituency is linked to another county west of the Shannon.

Seasoned political observers around Leinster House wryly suggested that Denis Naughten, who moved to the Independent benches over the hospital controversy, could not have drawn the new

Roscommon-Galway boundaries better himself.

6. Noel Coonan (FG)

Tipperary North

Tipperary North and South, both three-seaters, will be united to form a single constituency, but six into five does not go. Fine Gael’s Noel Coonan may suffer most when almost 11,000 voters find themselves transferred to Offaly.