Senator Nikki Bradley said the situation for Fine Gael after the tally doesn’t look great.
The results so far (Saturday afternoon) show both candidates sharing 9% of first preference votes.
“Being realistic it’s not looking great,” Bradley said.
When asked if Fine Gael needs to rebuild in Donegal, she said: “There is a bit of a feeling in some of the branches that we visited that some of the issues are not being listened to. That is a conversation maybe for another day.
“I don’t know if it’s the day to be asking that. Conversations need to be had. The branches need to be taken seriously, that people from Dublin do need to come up and sit down.”
Bradley will be going back to Leinster House as a Senator, having taking office as the Taoiseach’s appointee in July.
“Moving on as a Senator, what I can do will be quite similar to what I will be looking to do as a TD,” she said.
“I still feel quite positive because the issues I’ve heard at the door I will be bringing to the Seanad. I will be very hopeful that I will remain a Senator and a voice for the people of Donegal.”
More positivity is needed in Donegal, she said: “We are an incredible county and the people of Donegal need to remember that. I’ll be controversial here, There is a little bit of moaning and groaning going on about certain issues. I think if people could just stop and take a second and concentrate on what I do have rather than always what I don’t have.
Watch the full interview here:
