At the Fianna Fβil ardfheis in City West today, along with the usual set pieces - electioneering for committees, lobbying for causes and the ever-present behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings - there will be much canvassing by individuals seeking an important nomination. The position is that of party candidate for the Seanad by-election.
There has been a vacancy since Tom Hayes won a Dβil seat in Tipperary South for Fine Gael last June. FG has failed to move the writ and it doesn't intend doing so if it can get away with it, as the electorate is composed solely of members of the Oireachtas, the Government candidate is certain to win. FF, however, is getting impatient and despite the custom that the party which originally held the seat moves the writ, it may shortly embarrass FG into acting, or failing that, may move the writ itself.
But why hasn't FF moved sooner to increase its majority in the upper house? A Seanad campaign, with the certainty of a seat such a sought-after commodity, especially in the run-up to a general election, means every Dβil hopeful in the party has his or her eye on the nomination. Bertie Ahern, being Bertie Ahern, it is said, is reluctant to move because once he selects someone, the remaining hopefuls are bound to be disgruntled. The Taoiseach, it is known, doesn't like causing upset.
The competition for the nomination, which will be much in evidence this weekend, is intense. Ray MacSharry's constituencies committee, which includes such luminaries as a couple of Cabinet ministers, P.J. Mara and Martin Macken will debate who gets the nod, but Ahern will have the major say. The main criterion is which constituency could most benefit in the general election from a candidate getting a leg-up to the Seanad now. That means a close look at where the vital extra seat can be won.
Front runners for the nomination are Galway East's Joe Callanan and Carlow Kilkenny's M.J. Nolan. But there are many others who fancy their chances too including Tom McEllistrim of Kerry North and Marie Hocter of Tipp North.