By election candidates encounter huge public disenchantment with politicians
by John Downing
FIANNA FA´IL activists are not the only ones who have to put up with jibes about tax dodgers and posh shirts. Only about one in three registered voters is expected to turn out tomorrow to elect a new TD for Dublin South Central to replace Labour’s Pat Upton who tragically died earlier this year.
Yet, for those interested in politics and current affairs, this by election has some interesting talking points. For the Labour Party leadership there will be little kudos in their holding the seat ö but its loss would be a catastrophe; for Fianna Fáil it is about damage limitation in a time of considerable embarrassment; for Fine Gael a respectable showing with a novice candidate could be all to the good for the future; and for all the others, Sinn Féin, Greens, minor parties and non party, it will be a case of trying to maximise the protest vote and highlight every local issue.
Next time out this four seater becomes a five seat constituency. A good campaign now boosts recognition in a general election which is two years away ö at most. So everyone concerned has done their best.
The three main parties, and smaller outfits like Sinn Féin and the Greens, have plastered the constituency with posters. The Labour and Fine Gael heavy hitters have pounded the beat with vigour in support of their nominees, with a perhaps understandably more low key approach from Fianna Fáil. Not even the most apolitical residents of this extraordinary constituency, which juxtaposes abject poverty with high spending opulence, could claim they did not know there was a by election on. But a 40% turnout will be viewed as something of a success. As the canvass drew to a close, Labour candidate Mary Upton conceded that all sides have encountered widespread disenchantment with politicians and politics, though she understand ably stresses that much of it is anti Fianna Fáil.
Ms Upton is the bookies’ odds on favourite to take her late brother’s seat. The unlucky man flying the Fianna Fáil colours in Michael Mulcahy, a Dublin city councillor for the last 15 years. We encountered him standing outside a supermarket in Walkinstown trying to engage with the lunchtime shoppers who were polite but rather indifferent. Four times an also ran in Dáil elections, he epitomises the triumph of hope over experience. But his local work is also acknowledged by incidents like the dapper elderly man who thanked him for a leaflet drop, informing them about special housing schemes for senior citizens. If the dapper man is a plant, then he is also an excellent actor.
The scene has a ring of truth and Michael Mulcahy is the best known name on the ballot paper, but his candidacy will surely fail for lack of transfers. Further down the constituency, between the Guinness brewery and the River Liffey, Labour leader Ruairí Quinn is doing what he terms democratic aerobics, as he pounds up the concrete stairs of a flat complex in Watling Street. He is accompanying Mary Upton, a woman who insists that she has more to offer than a recognisable and respected name.
The Upton name has won out against that of former DL TD, Eric Byrne, himself a formidable campaigner who intends running for Labour in the general election. The Upton Byrne tussle has been well rehearsed ö and it will be again next time. Meanwhile, Ms Upton wants to work for better housing in the constituency ö somebody must do.
She also stresses education, the only other real hope in the battle against poverty. As a college lecturer in food science, she knows what she is talking about on these core issues.
“Complacency is our real enemy in this election. We can take nothing for granted,” she insisted.
Her Fine Gael rival and their team are in no danger of becoming complacent.
Catherine Byrne is a newcomer to Dublin city council, but she has an impressive record of community involvement.
Canvassing in Drimnagh, a large white van pulls level and the driver calls: “can you not get a proper job?” She smiles and waves recognition.
Ms Bryne is arm in arm with Fine Gael sitting TD Gay Mitchell, clearly a man prepared to risk creating a monster who could haunt him at general election time. FG leader John Bruton, as are Cork TD Simon Coveney, and Brian Hayes, a former by election candidate in this constituency and now director of elections. Mr Bruton clearly relishes the canvass and appears at least 10 years younger. He believes Gay Mitchell can collaborate with Catherine Byrne as both will be operating at either ends of the constituency next time out.
Ms Byrne’s Inchicore home base will be merged into Dublin South Central. “I’m not definitely predicting we’ll win ö but Catherine will do very well,” the FG leader hedges.
Quoted 10/1 by Paddy Power bookmaker she might be worth a tenner ö or maybe not. Popular wisdom is that Sinn Féin will come next in line behind the big three.
But pundits will be assessing the gap for evidence of how much SF can capitalise on political disenchantment and inner city anti drug activism.
The team backing candidate Aengus O´ Snodaigh can poster with the best of them and his photo is on every other pole.
The same can be said of Green Party candidate John Goodwillie. The party has stressed traffic and housing problems, but their emphasis on Partnership for Peace has left the bulk of constituents cold.
Others on the ballot include Manus MacMeanmain of Christian Solidarity; the Workers Party’s Shay Kelly, and John Burns of the Natural Law Party. Independent candidate Eamon Murphy is head of Aadams Women’s centre and he is a strong anti abortion campaigner.
Come tomorrow night, Fianna Fáil will likely have lost their fourth by election since taking power with the Progressive Democrats in July 1997. The only cold comfort they can take is that no government has won a by election since 1984.
•An article on the Dublin South Central by election published in The Examiner on October 25 was mistakenly accompanied by a photograph of Eric Byrne TD and a caption which said his sudden death led to the by election.
The article should have been accompanied by a photograph of the late Pat Upton TD, whose untimely death precipitated the by election. This was due to a production error. The Examiner wishes to sincerely apologise to the Byrne and Upton families, respectively, for any hurt or inconvenience caused.
© The Examiner, 1999