No changes despite big FG gains in Waterford
Fianna Fáil is on course to see its share of the first preference vote in the Waterford constituency drop by 8% but the swing away from the party will not result in the loss of a seat in next month’s general election.
Findings of a Waterford News & Star/Red C opinion poll published today indicate that first preference support for Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, will be down 2% while his running mates — outgoing Deputy Ollie Wilkinson and Senator Brendan Kenneally — will each be down 3% on their performance five years ago.
Cullen is set to take the second seat and outgoing Ollie Wilkinson will be re-elected without reaching the quota on the eight count.
In line with a national trend, Fine Gael is also finding favour with the electorate in Waterford with the party share of the first preference support up from 21% to 30%.
Despite the huge increase, there will be no second seat for the party.
The star performer with 20% of the first preference support is controversial John Deasy, who was sacked as front bench justice spokesman after smoking three cigarettes in the Dáil bar the day after the introduction of the smoking ban. He will be elected on the first count.
Contesting only his second general election, he has picked up where, in terms of local popularity, his father Austin, a former Minister for Agriculture, left off. If the findings of the general election carry through to the election, he will topple the Minister for Transport as poll topper.
The third seat in Waterford is set to be taken by Labour’s Deputy Brian O’Shea. The former teacher from Tramore has been a member of Dáil Éireann since 1989.
A 50% increase in first preference support for Sinn Féin will not be enough to secure a seat for the party in the four-seater Waterford constituency.
City councillor David Cullinane will have to settle for “best of the rest” if the results of a Waterford News & Star/Red C opinion poll are replicated in the forthcoming general election.
