THE last few weeks have not been the happiest for Fine Gael. After 30 months in government, the downturn couldn't have come at a more unfortunate time and has created an air of despondency in a party that, only four weeks ago when it celebrated its 75th anniversary, was looking forward to leading the first Government to be re-elected intact in recent times.
By the time the bad news broke the revelations on political fund-raising at the the Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments) and the argument over John Bruton's evidence; the rise in interest rates; the fall in FG support in the Irish Times/MRBI poll; the re-emergence of the Bridget McCole case - it was too late to halt the announcement of the election. Indeed it is believed in Leinster House that the Tanaiste, Dick Spring, favoured an early date, May 23rd or sooner, and that the Rainbow would have gone in early April but the Tanaiste failed to convince his senior partner. When the IT poll appeared, FG was gripped by a hope that the day of reckoning could be put back to the autumn and the notion was given serious thought.
Mr Spring, commenting on the poll on RTE on May 8th, all but confirmed June 6th. FG back-benchers were less than pleased. In their view, the Tanaiste had pre-empted the Taoiseach in naming the day and had cut off the autumn option.
To add to their troubles, the FG director of elections, Mark FitzGerald, was on crutches last weekend as a result of a domestic accident.