FF branch expresses no confidence in election candidate

A branch of Fianna Fáil passed a motion on Thursday night expressing no confidence in their general election candidate.

Over 100 members voted unanimously not to support or canvass for Connie Gerety-Quinn in Co Longford.

Ms Quinn was nominated as the party’s candidate last month despite opposition from the members.

The manager of the Longford Citizen’s Information Service, was nominated despite the opposition of the majority of the 350 or so delegates at the convention in the Longford Arms Hotel.

At a meeting last night, members agreed to ask the party’s Ard Comhairle not to ratify Ms Quinn has a candidate.

Picketing proposal

There was also a proposal that members should picket Fianna Fáil headquarters in Co Dublin at the next Ard Comhairle meeting, which takes place on December 10th. The proposal was accepted.

Cllr Seamus Butler has requested a second convention to be called with a full vote taking place.

He told The Irish Times: “The anger is palpable. I think headquarters thought this would go away but it has not - and it won’t.

“Nobody in Fianna Fáil Longford has confidence in the candidate, and will not canvass.

“So what do we do? Put forward a losing candidate and lose the party a potential seat?”

Fianna Fáil has already selected sitting TD Robert Troy as the candidate in the Westmeath end of the constituency, and Thursday night’s convention was to select a candidate from Longford.

Cllr Butler and the former president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association Pat O’Rourke had expressed interest in being a candidate, but a direction from party headquarters specified that the convention select a woman candidate.