Immigration charge droppedA Moldovan at the centre of a controversy over European election candidate Mr Royston Brady's posters had an immigration charge against him struck out in court, writes Liam Reid.
The charges against Mr Eugene Levitchi, who was arrested in the early hours by gardaí last week in Dundrum, were dismissed at Dún Laoghaire District Court yesterday. Gardaí agreed to have the immigration charge struck out, following a request by his solicitor. Mr Ronnie Lynam said his client had produced documents confirming his identity.
Gardaí made the arrest last week after they stopped a car near Roebuck Castle and found 150 posters belonging to the Dublin Lord Mayor. Mr Brady said he found the incident "sinister" and said gardaí had told him the posters were badly damaged. There is no indication that gardaí intend to bring further charges.
Mr Brady was unavailable for comment yesterday. However, a Fianna Fáil spokesman said Mr Brady had indicated on Sunday that he did not intend to pursue the issue, and was instead concentrating on his campaign.
It is believed Mr Levitchi had arrived in Ireland less than two weeks ago.
Sinnott hot on Collins's tail
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are set to win a European Parliament seat each in the South constituency, with independent Ms Kathy Sinnott challenging Fianna Fail's Mr Gerard Collins for the final seat, according to the first opinion poll of the election campaign, writes Mark Brennock.
The poll, conducted by Lansdowne Market Research for Prime Time and the Irish Examiner showed the candidates securing support as follows: Mr Brian Crowley (FF), 30 per cent; Mr Simon Coveney (FG), 26 per cent; Mr Gerard Collins (FF), 15 per cent; Ms Kathy Sinnott (Ind), 13 per cent; Mr David Cullinane (SF), 6 per cent; Mr Chris O'Leary (Green), 5 per cent; and Mr Brendan Ryan (Lab), 5 per cent.
Three further independents - Mr Gerard Hannan, Ms Lily Moynihan and Mr Anthony O'Connor - were not included on the ballot paper used in the poll.
With 25 per cent of the vote needed to win a seat in a three-seat constituency, Mr Crowley's surplus will boost Mr Collins. However, the three lower-placed candidates likely to be eliminated during the count - according to this poll - are from Labour, the Green Party and Sinn Féin. These generally attract a high proportion of anti-establishment votes, meaning that they may transfer to Ms Sinnott, giving her some prospect of beating Mr Collins to the final seat.
Open FF war in North West
A week after Fianna Fáil's European election candidates in the North West constituency confirmed they had failed to agree on canvassing territory, open war appears to have been declared, writes Lorna Siggins.
The Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Dr Jim McDaid, swept into Mayo yesterday and did an interview with Mid West Radio. The election teams working with Dr McDaid and sitting MEP Mr Sean O'Neachtain had failed to work out an agreement in a dispute centring on Roscommon.
Dr McDaid said last night: "I am being left with about 34 per cent of the population with just Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan, while he will have 66 per cent if he has Galway, Mayo, Clare and Roscommon. Vote management will only work if the two candidates agree."
However, Mr O'Neachtain maintains he should have Roscommon as he has the backing of the Comhairle Ceanntair.
Action against RTE threatened
An independent candidate in the European election in Dublin is threatening court action against RTE after it withdrew an invitation to participate in a live radio debate, writes Arthur Beesley.
A Co Cork businessman, Mr Paul Doonan, who is campaigning against the citizenship referendum and the smoking ban, said he was likely to seek an injunction after the station withdrew his invitation to appear on the Tonight with Vincent Browne programme.
An RTE spokesman confirmed Mr Doonan's invitation had been withdrawn. "We do try to accommodate, as much as we can, independent candidates, and inevitably all independents can't get a look in in terms of a live debate," he said.
RTE was obliged to consider previous electoral performance in the European poll when making up panels for studio debates. It was also obliged to consider the level of activity in a campaign and to seek the views of local "independent commentators" on the prospects of such candidates.
FFers stall in Monaghan
Senior Fianna Fail officials were in talks yesterday evening following a refusal by the members of the local organisation in Monaghan to nominate candidates for the local elections, writes Liam Reid.
With less than two days until nominations close, the party in Monaghan town and North Monaghan have refused to hold a selection convention in protest over Monaghan Hospital.
They have sought commitments from the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, about the restoration of services at the hospital, before agreeing to nominate candidates.
Party members have threatened to stand as independents. Last night a party spokesman said the general secretary, Mr Sean Dorgan, was in discussions in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
V de P names its poll issues
Local authorities' responsibilities to the poor must be raised with all local election candidates, the Society of St Vincent de Paul has said.
The society published its local elections Issues Card yesterday and called on voters to raise the issues with candidates.
Housing, child poverty and waste management are among the issues the society highlights. Local authorities have responsibility to build more social housing and cut the housing waiting lists, it says.
"Most local authorities have not delivered on their legal requirement to provide Traveller accommodation.
"Provision of adequate amenities and service in all public and private housing developments is important for quality of life," it adds.