Four FG candidates already in bid to win party nomination in Cork South Central

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Wednesday that he believed replacements would be “lining up” to succeed Simon Coveney in Cork South Central.

Four candidates have so far confirmed they intend to run in the constituency, with more potentially waiting to declare by next Friday’s deadline.

Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, said it was his intention to seek the Fine Gael nomination to contest the next election in Cork South Central.

“I believe I have the energy, the vision and the ambition for Cork and for Ireland, to continue my role in the Oireachtas as a member of Dáil Éireann, having served 17 years as a member of the Dáil and Seanad.

“I believe that I have a responsibility to go before the party membership on July 23 to seek their nomination to run for the general election.” 

Former lord mayor of Cork, south-east ward councillor Des Cahill, said he had written to party members to declare his intention to run.

“I am probably the one candidate who is offering the most, my election history is very strong, the south-east area is the largest Fine Gael area, I’ve had the most votes in the last four elections, my tenure as lord mayor means I’m well-known, and I’m recognised as an ally of Simon’s since the start,” Mr Cahill said.

“I think I have a reasonably good chance, but it’s down to the members to vote.”

Shane O’Callaghan, who topped the poll in the Cork City South Central ward in last month’s local elections, said he believed he was the candidate best placed to maintain his party’s seat in Cork South Central.

“I increased the Fine Gael vote in the south-central ward by 50%, whereas in every other part of the constituency our vote either remained static or went down.

“I’m relatively young, I’m enthusiastic, I’m a barrister by profession, so I think I have the skills and know-how to articulate Fine Gael policy,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

John Mullins, who ran unsuccessfully for Fine Gael in Ireland South in last month’s European elections, said he was also putting his hat in the ring.

“For the first time out, I had a very good election, I know that I got a very significant amount of votes in the Cork metropolitan area, my parents still live in Bishopstown, my family live in South Central, and I’ve been working in the constituency for the best part of 17, 18 years now,” he said.

“I’ll put myself before convention, and we’ll see how the convention goes.” 

County councillors Úna McCarthy and Jack White both said they had yet to make a decision on whether they intend to run.