WILLIE O’Dea (FF), Michael Noonan (FG), Jan O’Sullivan (LAB) and Kieran O’Donnell (FG) are all set to be returned to the next Dail and win a seat in the General Election 2011 – that’s according to Paddy Power’s latest betting showing the poll topping former Minister for Defence and now the spokesman for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, a clear favourite at unbackable odds of 1/40.
Fine Gael former leader and the current opposition spokesperson for finance, Michael Noonan at 1/20, is second favourite to take a seat in the city, and with his popularity on the increase, the 67-year-old TD, who has filled cabinet positions in the portfolios of Justice and Health, is poised to push his Fianna Fail counterpart all the way for the top spot.
Labour spokesperson for Health, Jan O’Sullivan is at 1/14, having won a by-election in 1998, became the first female TD from Limerick since 1921.
She was re-elected in the 2002 and 2007 General Elections and is tipped to take the third seat ahead Fine Gael’s Kieran O’Donnell.
However, Kieran O’Donnell (FG) at 8/13 will feel the pressure as both Joe Leddin (LAB) at 5/4 and Maurice Quinlivan (SF) at 7/4, are expected to be in close pursuit.
Kevin Kiely, running on an independent ticket, is priced at 6/1, while Peter Power (FF) at 6/1 and the new spokesperson for Trade and Foreign Affairs, will have a hard push, according to Paddy Power bookmakers, to unseat any of the top four.
United Left Alliance candidate, Cian Prendiville is a rank outsider in the betting with Paddy Power hedging their bets at 20/1 for him to take one of the four seats in the city.
The County Limerick constituency depicts a different story from Paddy Power, as two of the three seats seem to be earmarked for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
Dan Neville (FG), at 1/14, and Niall Collins (FF), at 1/8, are set to be the two poll toppers, while Patrick O’Donovan (FG), at 8/15, will be putting up a huge fight to stave off the other candidates.
While all three are currently tipped to take the three seats available, the story behind tells of John Dillon (IND), at 13/8, James Heffernan (LAB), at 13/8, and first time candidate Bill O’Donnell (FG), at 5/1, aiming to canvass hard to stake a claim on a seat at the 31st Dail.
Voters will take to the polls on Friday, February 25 to elect their TDs and public representatives for the 31st sitting of Dail Eireann
