Harney: It's all there to play for
Mary Harney was today campaigning after shrugging aside opinion poll evidence that the Progressive Democrats party could be further decimated in the general election.
She maintained that new survey methods being used for the first time in the current campaign were not adequately reflecting the measure of support for smaller parties in the contest.
Ms Harney said: ‘‘We are optimistic about the constituencies we have targeted and it is not unrealistic that we could double our present number of four seats.
‘‘The election is just one week old - it is all there to play for.’’
The two opinion polls so far published since Bertie Ahern called the May 17 election have indicated backing of just 2% and 3% for the PDs - as well as the prospect of an overall majority in the Dáil - for Fianna Fáil.
PD candidate Michael McDowell, attorney general in the last government, put up posters in his Dublin constituency declaring ‘‘One Party Government? - No Thanks.’’
Ms Harney conceded that if the election were held tomorrow ‘‘there probably would be an overall Fianna Fáil majority’’.
But she went on: ‘‘I don’t believe that is what the people of Ireland want to see. In fact a majority of Fianna Fáil supporters don’t want it. Partnership government works very well.’’
In another campaign development, Fine Gaelsaid they would elevate the Sellafield nuclear waste processing plant issue to top place in relations with Britain if they gained office.
Senior frontbencher Nora Owen also criticised Mr Ahern’s government for ignoring an offer from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd to permit an inspection of the controversial Cumbrian facility.
She claimed Fianna Fáil had done nothing to bring pressure to curb activities at the nuclear complex.
‘‘Sellafield has expanded over the lifetime of Bertie Ahern’s administration,’’ she said.
Ms Owen said a strand of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement had provided for structured relations, and Fine Gael would take action against Sellafield by ‘‘putting the plant at the top of the agenda in relations with Britain’’.
She also reported: ‘‘Fine Gael will use our significant influence as members of the powerful European People’s Party to seek support from other EU states in the campaign against Sellafield - something that Fianna Fáil cannot do, as they have no real allies on the European stage.’’
