Fianna Fáil has once again deferred its decision to announce the party's third general election candidate in the Galway West constituency, writes Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had been expected to confirm the third nominee during his visit to the Galway Races this week. However, party headquarters said yesterday that there would be no announcement before the bank holiday weekend - the second time it has been postponed as the party prepares to capture three of the five seats in the constituency.
City councillor John Connolly (FF) has appealed for a reconvening of the selection convention, which was abandoned in disarray last January in a disagreement over the number of candidates to be chosen.
"I just feel that ordinary members should be allowed to have a say in this, and it isn't too late to do that," he told The Irish Times.
Cllr Connolly had been a bidder for the nomination, but withdrew his name when it emerged that the convention would not be reconvened and a third person would be "interviewed" for the post. After the abortive convention, the issue was referred to the party's constituencies committee which ruled that the two current TDs, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Frank Fahey, would be selected automatically.
The committee said it would hold interviews for four other potential candidates - Galway county councillors Mary Hoade and Séamus Walshe, Mr Connolly in the city and former councillor and member of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Val Hanley.
However, there was some surprise and much upset when a fifth person turned up for interview - city councillor Michael Crowe, a Galway-based auctioneer who was elected as an independent and joined Fianna Fáil last April.
It is understood that party strategists favour his candidacy, as a potential vote-catcher in the city area. "I have to say I support Cllr Mary Hoade, as the poll-topper in the last local elections and with a very good catchment on the city's east side where Progressive Democrats TD Noel Grealish is based," Mr Connolly said.
Mr Connolly did not attend Fianna Fáil's "democracy day" in the Galway Races tent yesterday, when entrance, including a meal and a drink, was pitched at €75 - with proceeds to party headquarters.
A fundraiser for the Galway West constituency in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, on Wednesday night was described by several participants as "low key". The Taoiseach attended for about an hour, along with Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue. Last year, a report by the Galway West constituency had criticised the "elitist" nature of the party's Galway Race week tent.