Published: Wednesday, 16th June, 2010 5:00pm

Hogan is confident Labour can gain seat

by Michael Cryan

Liam Hogan.
Pic by==: 97

Despite the fact that the Cavan/Monaghan constituency is one of the few throughout the country that has never returned a Labour candidate to Dail Éireann, a local representative believes his party has a more than fighting chance to change that statistic in the next general election.

Liam Hogan, who came perilously close to gaining a seat for Labour on Cavan County Council, in last year's local elections believes that there could be an election within the next six to nine months.

His comments come following last week's Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll, which put the Labour party as the biggest political party in the state for the first time ever.

"The people have lost confidence in the current government and they want change," said Mr. Hogan, who said he would be seeking a Labour nomination to run at the next opportunity.

The current turmoil in Fine Gael also augurs well for the Labour Party, said Mr. Hogan, as they are riding high in the opinion polls and party leader Eamon Gilmore has the highest rating of any of the party leaders.

"We are delighted with our showing in national polls and here in the northeast region Labour is on 15%, which is significant for the party," said Mr. Hogan.

Having secured just under ten per cent of first preferences in last year's local elections, the Labour candidate firmly believes that the party can make a significant impression in the constituency at the next General Election.

While he is aware of the party's poor performance in previous outings, he points out to the rising spring tide of 1992 when Ann Gallagher, who later became a Senator, came close to gaining a seat for Labour in Cavan/Monaghan. He further points out that there have been two left wing TDs elected in recent years Caoimhghin O'Caolain of Sinn Féin and hospital candidate, Paudge Connolly.

According to the latest opinion polls the Labour party is currently the most popular party at 32%, which according to Liam proves that the public have confidence in Labour and its ability to deliver. He believes that the party can gain seats especially in five-seat constituencies like Cavan/Monaghan in the next election.

"I know it will be a difficult task to win a seat here in Cavan/Monaghan but I feel Fine Gael will gain a seat from Fianna Fáil and Labour could be fighting for the last one. I'm not saying it is going to be an easy battle to win a seat as Fianna Fáil will have to lose two for a Labour candidate to take a seat," said Mr. Hogan.

People, he said, were hankering for change and they were looking for new young energetic candidates with new ideas and were going to represent Cavan/Monaghan in Dáil Éireann. Mr. Hogan contended that the current government had messed up the economy and he didn't think it was beyond the possibility that his party could win a seat here.

He hoped that Labour could make a significant impression in the constituency when a general election is called. Liam takes solus in the fact that in last year's local election he out-polled his four Fianna Fáil rivals on first preference votes in the Cavan electoral area. He just failed to cross the line on transfers.

"The silent revolution has begun. The people on the door step will let Fianna Fáil know how they feel on their performance in government," concluded Mr. Hogan.

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