Last minute talks are happening today in a bid to prevent a Christmas election.
Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin will meet again in Cork to discuss a way out of the crisis around the Tánaiste.
Fianna Fáil’s motion of no confidence in Frances Fitzgerald is due to go ahead tomorrow, and they say she has to resign to avoid an election.
Locally, preparations will kick off in earnest tonight when Fine Gael holds the first selection convention in Clare.
One of those who will be selected, Junior Minister Pat Breen, has today said that he still believes a compromise can be found.
He says the only solution is to let the Charleton tribunal run it’s course:
Meanwhile, it remains to be decided whether an election actually will take place in the coming weeks, perspective candidates have been putting preparations in place.
Independent TD Michael Harty has today confirmed that he will seek to retain his seat, and another election hopeful is pushing ahead with his campaign even though any snap election would hurt his chances.
Clare FM’s Gavin Grace has this analysis:
Fianna Fáil Councillor Cathal Crowe announced in August that he wants to secure the party’s nomination to run in the election, after changes to the boundary of the Clare constituency were seen to benefit him.
Those changes have brought over 4,000 voters in South-East Clare, close to Cathal Crowe’s Meelick base, back into the Clare constituency from Limerick City where they had been voting in recent general elections.
At least, that was the recommendation of the boundary commission – however, its report hasn’t passed through the Oireachtas and unless this occurs, it’s expected that the election would be run without any boundary changes whatsoever.
Labour election hopeful and former TD Joe Costello is arguing this would be in breach of the constitution, and this morning ge was granted an accelerated High Court hearing to make his case – that will go ahead tomorrow.
Even if he is unsuccessful, Councillor Crowe has confirmed to Clare FM that he still wants to run, even though he has stressed that he doesn’t think an election now would be good for the country.
Also for Fianna Fáil, sitting TD Timmy Dooley will run, while former Ennis Chamber President Rita McInerney has said she too hopes to form part of the party’s ticket.
Fine Gael will be the first part to select their candidates tonight. Their convention in Ennis is expected to choose Pat Breen and Joe Carey, though more names could be added at a later date.
Michael McNamara, who lost his seat last time out, has said he will run – that’s likely to be for Labour, though he hasn’t ruled out running as an Independent.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin have yet to select their candidate to run in Clare – the party’s only elected representative here, Shannon Councillor Mike McKee says they’ll be targeting a seat, whoever that candidate may be.
Earlier, while criticising the possibility that there could be an election, Deputy Michael Harty said he “absolutely” will look to retain his Dáil seat.
