Election Fever Grows in Wicklow

Wicklow News

News Archives

/ News /

Printable Version

Email this Story

Election Fever Grows in Wicklow

Saturday, April 7 2007

Although the date is yet to be announced, the 2007 election campaign is well underway in the Garden County as at least 12 candidates fight for Wicklow's five seats in Dáil Eireann. With Joe Jacob and Mildren Fox giving up their seats this election is wide open and new faces are guaranteed.

The field includes Bray sitting TD and Minister for the Environment Dick Roche, Arklow councillor Pat Fitzgerald and Bray councillor Joe Behan for Fianna Fail, with Fianna Fail councillor Pat Doran from Carnew running as an independent. Billy Timmins and East Wicklow councillor Andrew Doyle are running for Fine Gael with sitting TD Liz McManus and Arklow councillor Nicky Kelly running for Labour. Green Party Councillor Deirdre de Burca and Sinn Féin councillor John Brady are also in the race with Bray's Carmel McKenna and Greystones councillor Evelyn Cawley standing as independents.

With the three sitting TDs expected to retain their seats the real competition is for the two vacant slots. While the six weeks left until the election are a very long time in politics it is expected that the election in Wicklow will boil down to two real competitions. The first is between Joe Behan and Pat Fitzgerald for the second Fianna Fail seat vacated by Joe Jacob, while the second is whether Labour's Nicky Kelly or the Green's Deirdre de Burca will take the last seat vacated by Mildred Fox. As it stands the outcome of either struggle is anybody's guess.

Current legislation requires that the Dáil be dissolved within five years after its first meeting (June 6, 2002) following the previous election and the election must take place not later than thirty days after later than July 2007.

There is some controversy over which day of the week the election should be held on with Mr Ahern reportedly wanting it to be held on a Thursday (24 May is considered to be his preferred date) while some opposition parties insisting that a Weekend polling day would facilitate (mainly younger) voters studying or working away from home. Previous elections/referenda have been held on Thursdays, Fridays and (in one case) a Wednesday.

Printable Version

Email this Story