Mass Exodus of Fianna Fail TD’s, O’Flynn and Blaney latest to go

24 TDs who contested the 2007 election are not contesting in 2011 for Fianna Fail, Noel O’Flynn and Niall Blaney latest not to stand. Doubts have been expressed about Cowen.

Noel O’Flynn and Niall Blaney announced separately on Sunday that they are not contesting their seats in the upcoming election, following Mattie McGrath’s profile defection from the party over the Finance bill there are now 24 Fianna Fail TDs who will not be standing for re-election in 2011.

Micheal Martin is reported to have advised deputy O’Flynn not to stand in Cork North Central for the good of Fianna Fail, further to reports that Mr Martin is effectively cutting his losses (http://bit.ly/ef0HJ9) in the run up to the general election. Niall Blaney Td for Donegal North East has cited personal reasons for his decision not to run for re-election. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, is yet to confirm if he will stand for his Laois Offaly seat.

The TDs have an average age of 59 years upon leaving office, with the youngest not to stand being Niall Blaney at just 37 years of age. His father, Neal Blaney, was a former member of the Old IRA and Fianna Fail TD for Donegal East. Blaney Jr was originally elected to the Dail as an independent Fianna Fail TD in 2002, before joining the main party 26^th July 2006.

Also noteworthy is Beverly Flynn’s decision to quit the party, not least as 1 of Fianna Fail’s few female TDs. The Deputy for Mayo had a difficult relationship with Fianna Fail at times. Previously expelled from the party over a libel action with RTE she was subsequently re-admitted in 2008 after having won her seat as an independent candidate. In 2007 Fianna Fail put forward 3 candidates in Mayo and currently are only fielding 1 in 2011.

Dublin South tells a similar story, with Tom Kitt retiring and Seamus Brennan having passed away, Fianna Fail is only offering 1 candidate at present. Such a strategy is aimed at maximising the support held by Fianna Fail each constituency, avoiding potential vote splitting where prospective candidates dilute each other’s support by competing for the same share of the electorate.

Micheal Martin advised Rte today “One swallow does not make a summer” after the latest polls (http://bit.ly/ef0HJ9) put his personal approval rating above Enda Kenny, Fine Gael and Eamon Gilmore, Labour. Fianna Fail enjoyed a modest increase of support to 16% from the 14% reported in January.

The Full list of TDs not standing is as follows: Ahern, Bertie (Dublin Central), Ahern, Dermot (Louth), Ahern, Noel (Dublin North West), Ardagh, Séan (Dublin South Central), Blaney, Niall (Donegal North East) Brennan, Seamus (Dublin South - deceased), Flynn, Beverly (Mayo), Cullen, Martin (Waterford – vacated seat 2010), Dempsey, Noel (Meath West), Devins, Jimmy (Sligo Leitrim North), Finneran, Michael (Roscommon South Leitrim), Gallagher, Pat the Cope (Donegal South West – became MEP 2009), Killeen, Tony (Clare), Kitt, Tom (Dublin South), McDaid, Jim (Donegal North East – vacated seat 2010),McGrath, Mattie (Tipperary South), Nolan, MJ (Carlow Kilkenny), O’Flynn, Noel (Cork North Central), O’Hanlon, Rory (Cavan Monaghan), O’Keeffe, Batt (Cork North West), O’Keeffe, Ned (Cork East), Treacy, Noel (Galway East), Wallace, Mary (Meath East), Woods, Michael (Dublin North East).