Mexican stand-off over Áras for Mary Lou and Micheál
Senior figures in Fianna Fáil believe a Mexican stand-off is developing between Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald where, if Ms McDonald declares for the Presidency, Mr Martin will feel compelled to take her on to keep the Áras out of the hands of Sinn Féin.
The Fianna Fáil leader has struggled to resist the entreaties of a growing number of backbench TDs that he run for the Park.
Asked on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland last week if he is going to run, he said: ‘No, I’m not. Definitely not.’
Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
However, should Ms McDonald declare, the reluctant Mr Martin would come under serious pressure from his own party to save the Áras from Sinn Féin.
One senior party figure said: ‘Are we really going to put up Mary Hanafin against Mary Lou? Gerry Adams maybe… Mary Lou no.’
Fianna Fáil has struggled to find a compelling candidate for its first tilt at the Áras in more than a quarter of a century, since Mary McAleese won in 1997.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Pic: Fran Veale
One despairing minister said: ‘It has been a farce crossed with an embarrassment: the sad reality is that the option left for the parliamentary party is a choice between Mary Hanafin, Pat the Cope Gallagher and some academic no one knows a single thing about. ‘
Ms Hanafin has the strong support of the party whip, Mary Butler, but it ends there. Éamon Ó Cuív is apparently waiting for a call too. He had better tune up his political antennae for it will be very faint.’
Mary Hanafin. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
Another minister confirmed the lack of any interest noting: ‘It is an utterly second-tier election. Not even junior, let alone senior hurling.’ In another addition to the list, they said: ‘Newstalk’s Ciara Kelly would be a good addition. She is a kind of a younger Miriam O’Callaghan.’ Mr Martin is expected to announce his decision on who will represent Fianna Fáil in the third week of August.
Several senior members of the party said that the strategic position would change utterly were Ms McDonald, who has displayed a similar lack of ambition for the job to Mr Martin, to be chosen to represent Sinn Féin.
One senior Fianna Fáil figure said: ‘That would completely change the game plan. There is no way Micheál could allow Sinn Féin to waltz in and take the keys of the Áras.’
Dr Ciara Kelly. Pic: Fran Veale
Another said: ‘There is a bit of an accidental Mexican stand-off between Micheál and Mary Lou. ‘He would be in a terrible bind. He could not stand idly by if such a possibility emerged. He would have no choice.’
Another Fianna Fáil source said: ‘The issue of how we deal with a Mary Lou McDonald challenge is a growing feature of our internal dialogue. A significant degree of momentum has built up behind the Micheál comeback.
‘Let’s be blunt about it. Who do you want taking on Mary Lou? Is it Micheál or Tony Holohan facing a host of questions about Cervical Check or his departure as CMO?’
Tony Holohan. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie
But other senior Fianna Fáil sources counselled against getting ‘too carried away over the Mary Lou Micheál stand-off.’
One minister said: ‘He is very good at calculating the political odds and may come to the conclusion that it is safe to calculate that Mary Lou won’t win in the end.
‘He will also have to factor in how much damage would be done to his authority if he were to ren and lose to Mary Lou. Would he even be able to campaign as a Taoiseach?’
