Fianna Fáil could take three seats in Galway West at the expense of the Progressive Democrats junior minister Mr Bobby Molloy, according to an opinion poll published yesterday.
The constituency poll was carried out last month by Bluebird Marketing for the Galway Advertiser before Mr Molloy declared that he intended to run again in the next election. However, it shows that Senator Margaret Cox could win back the third seat held by Fianna Fáil until the mid-1980s, when Mr Molloy joined the PDs.
Labour's Mr Michael D Higgins would hold his seat, the poll finds, but Fine Gael could find itself battling with the PDs, with only 1 per cent of first preferences between them. Connacht-Ulster MEP Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon would take only 2 per cent of the vote if she stood in the constituency. The poll results show two Sinn Féin candidates as having doubled their support to 5 per cent.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Mr Éamon Ó Cuiv, tops the poll, increasing his vote by four points to 21 per cent, while he is followed by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, at 19 per cent of first preferences. Mr Higgins comes third at 11.6 per cent of first preferences.