FINE GAEL’S CANDIDATE for the European elections in Dublin has admitted he has it all to do after a weekend opinion poll put him in third place in the race for the capital’s three seats in Brussels.
Brian Hayes had been the assumed frontrunner and was tipped to easily take a seat on 23 May, but the poll put him in third place facing a battle against Fianna Fáil, Labour and the Greens with Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and independent Nessa Childers out in front.
Speaking in central Dublin today, the junior finance minister said: “I never like the tag of a favourite, whether you’re betting on horses or betting on politics.”
He admitted he has “it all to do” adding: “I’ve a real fight on my hands but I relish that prospect.
The TD for Dublin South West added: “The fact that we are in a difficult position from this poll spurs on the Fine Gael campaign.
“There was never any complacency on my part… We knew we’d have a fight on our hands and we have it.”
Hayes was speaking at the launch of a free election guide, produced by Fine Gael, but containing what he claimed is “straightforward, factual information, in a non-political way” about the European Parliament.
Dubbing it his “little blue book”, Hayes said: “It’s really important, before voters vote on 23 May, that they understand exactly what they’re voting for and the powers that the members of the European Parliament have.”
He was accompanied by his director of elections and fellow junior minister Paschal Donohoe as well as Meath East TD Helen McEntee and Senator Catherine Noone.
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