DONEGAL County Councillor Pearse Doherty has confirmed he is in discussions with a range of different political parties in his bid to become the first ever Sinn Féin representative to be elected to the Seanad.
Speaking to the Donegal News on Wednesday Cllr Doherty confirmed discussions were also continuing at national level to agree a voting pact with Labour about a deal that would secure enough votes for him to be elected.
However, he also revealed he has had discussions with Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Fine Gael from all over the country seeking support for his nomination. Cllr Doherty is seeking election on the Agricultural Panel where he is guaranteed 58 Sinn Féin votes but will need to find another 30 to be elected.
SPARE
Labour, with 125 votes, should have 30 or so to spare on the same panel after electing their own Senator.
In return Sinn Féin councillors around the State would vote for Labour's Alex White to give the party an extra seat in the Upper House.
"What I'm trying to do is maximise our vote from wherever I can. There has been discussions with Labour and hopefully a deal can be done but I've also contacted members of other political parties seeking support for my nomination. Hopefully, I'll be to secure enough first and second preferences from within all the parties to get me through. The Seanad elections are very complex because all of those with a vote have political affiliations," he said.
"It can be hard to convince them to go outside their party block but we're in with a fighting chance and I must say the response I've been getting has been very good, " Cllr Doherty added.
Members of Sinn Féin were due to travel to travel to Dublin yesterday (Thursday) to cast their votes in the Seanad elections.
Labour has sufficient votes to deliver four of the Seanad panel but will need support from elsewhere to secure a fifth.
Ballot papers have been sent out to more than 1,000 public representatives whose votes will elect 43 of the 60 members of the Seanad.
Labour TD Joe Costello, the party's director of elections for the Seanad, said while discussions had taken place with Sinn Féin the party had also been talking to other parties as well.
Parties have often traded votes in past Seanad elections. In 1992 the Progressive Democrats and the Workers Party entered into a voting pact that gave each a senator.
In 1997 the PD's voted for Fianna Fáil candidates and in return were given Seanad seats among the Taoiseach's 11 nominees.
Green Party councillors have been informed to vote for Fianna Fáil candidates as part of the coalition deal struck between the two parties.
All ballots have to be returned to the Clerk of the Seanad by Monday next, July 23.
