FG ‘must go back to the board’ after poor result
Dublin People 29 Oct 2011
FINE Gael’s Deputy Brian Hayes has described Gay
Mitchell’s poor result in the Presidential Election as
“very disappointing
?.
He said the opinion poll results in the run up to the
election became a
“self-fulfilling prophecy
?.
Deputy Hayes said the people of Ireland were looking
for an independent candidate and that Fine Gael must now go back to the board
in an attempt to regain public confidence in the party.
In a statement, he said Gay Mitchell was too closely
aligned to Fine Gael.
“Fine Gael will have to look at the election in the
round now,
? he said as he rejected suggestions that Mitchell was not the choice
of some of the party leadership.
In a statement issued on Friday night, Deputy Mitchell
said he had telephoned Michael D Higgins to congratulate him on his success in
becoming the President-elect.
“Mr Higgins will make an excellent President and his
wife, Sabina, will be an excellent first lady,
? Deputy Mitchell said.
“My loyal
support is with them and I wish them every blessing for the years ahead.
?
His comments came shortly after Labour leader Eamon
Gilmore congratulated Michael D Higgins on his election.
”I’m really happy for him,
? Deputy Gilmore said.
“He
ran a very positive campaign and I think people responded to that.
?
The Tánaiste said it had been an honour to nominate
the 70-year-old for the job.
“This is a good day for the Labour Party,
? he added.
“I’m really happy for him. I’m really delighted that he succeeded.
?
He said Higgins ran a positive campaign and that he
didn’t show signs of panic at anytime, which he believes was critical in securing
him the presidency.
Deputy Gilmore added that he believes the election
outcome changed on RTE’s
‘The Frontline’ after the confrontation between Martin
McGuinness and Sean Gallagher.
Senator David Norris, another independent, was one of
the first seven candidates to congratulate Mr Higgins on his win.
He said he was
“quite certain
? in the run up to the
election that Mr Higgins would become president.
“When you have such a concentration of power in the
hands of the coalition I think it’s good to have somebody who will be in a
position, morally and intellectually, to speak out on behalf of the
marginalised,
? he said.
In a statement responding to Higgins’ victory, Sean
Gallagher said:
“He will have my full
support as President and I sincerely thank him for a positive campaign. His
slogan stated that he would be a President to be proud of and I believe he will
be that President.”
Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin also congratulated
Mr Higgins saying it was an
“exceptionally proud day
? for him, his wife Sabina
and their family.
“I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he
will make an excellent President and ambassador for Ireland,
? Mr Martin said.
“I want to wish him well in his presidency for which
he will have my full support and that of the Fianna Fail party.
?
Mary Davis also sent her best wishes to Michael D
Higgins on Twitter – “Congratulations Michael and wishing you every
success for the next 7 years in the Aras,
? she Tweeted.
Paddy Power paid out over
?¬350,000 to punters who
backed Michael D Higgins to become the ninth President of Ireland.
The bookies paid out on the Labour candidate after
former front runner Sean Gallagher admitted defeat. Gallagher posted his
congratulations to Michael D in an official statement on his website on Friday
evening.
?¢ Should Fine Gael have chosen a different candidate for the election? Have your say. Vote in our poll on the right hand side of this page.
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