McHugh in the Dail – senior party members believe he will now lose his seat
SITTING TD Joe McHugh has officially welcomed the addition of Paddy Harte Jnr to the Fine Gael election ticket, but senior party officials say the decision could cost the party both of their seats at the General Election.
In a statement released by his press team tonight Minister McHugh said: “I am very pleased that Paddy Harte has been added as the second Fine Gael candidate to the ticket in Donegal. I have known Paddy for many years and I am looking forward to working hard with him to retain two Fine Gael seats in the County.
“We have a job ahead of us, it won’t be easy but I am fully committed to keeping both seats won by Fine Gael in the last election. We have come through an incredibly difficult time for people, especially in this county but we have begun to see things change for the better and I intend on working tirelessly throughout this campaign to remind people just how dire things were in 2011, the improvements we have achieved, and how if Fine Gael is re-elected, people throughout Ireland, and not just in the main cities and urban areas, will benefit from their hard work.
“We still need to focus on areas that need much improvement – blanket broadband coverage throughout Donegal, more jobs, renewed commitment and upgrading of health services and improved infrastructure. I am looking forward to working with my colleague in doing our absolute best for the people of Donegal.”
However senior party officials have told Donegal Daily they fear the decision will now see the party lose BOTH their seats in the Dail.
There had been faint hopes that McHugh would keep his seat, with private opinion polls suggesting he might have a chance at the final seat.
But with the addition of Mr Harte – and both politicians going after the same votes in the same areas of Donegal – strategists in the party said they now had ‘no chance’.
“This decision (Paddy Harte’s selection) was taken in Dublin,” said one senior angry party member.
“This was not a decision taken by the party in Donegal. It’s a disaster all round; it shows HQ haven’t a clue about the party or the county. This will split the small vote we had in the first place and will put an end to any hope of any seat for Fine Gael in Donegal at the election. It’s a disaster, a complete and utter disaster.”
Party members here had hoped to add Donegal Town estate agent Keith Anderson to mop up party support in the south of the county.
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