SENATOR BRIAN Ó Domhnaill was selected unopposed as the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Donegal South West byelection in Glenties last night.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who attended the selection convention, accused the Opposition parties of proposing soft options to combat the economic crisis. “This byelection offers an opportunity to bring clarity and light where there has been heat and debate and suggestions that there are easy ways out,” Mr Cowen said.
Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan, who is a TD for the constituency, claimed no benefit would come to the constituency by “electing a TD to sit on the Opposition benches for the duration of this Dáil”. Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív chaired the convention.
Three other candidates who had put their names forward withdrew ahead of the selection convention. They were: Cllr David Alcorn, who is close to Pat “The Cope” Gallagher; Cllr Patrick McGowan, son of the late Senator Paddy McGowan, and former senator and former councillor Enda Bonner.
The vacancy arose following the election of Mr Gallagher to the European Parliament in June of last year. Relations between Mr Gallagher and Mr Ó Domhnaill, a 33-year-old former teacher and former councillor from Gortahork, have been tense for some time.
However, in his speech, Mr Cowen praised the unity the party had displayed last night. He described Mr Ó Domhnaill as an excellent standard bearer.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Science Conor Lenihan said it was very unlikely a candidate from a Government party could succeed in a byelection. “Everything is there to play for but I would accept from the outset that it is very unlikely that a Government candidate will win. We will be at the races but I think it is broadly unlikely that a Government candidate of any kind would win a byelection,” Mr Lenihan said.
Mr Lenihan said two of the three outstanding byelections, in Dublin South and Waterford, were scheduled to take place early next year but a general election could take place before then.
Speaking on The Week In Politicsshow on RTÉ last night, Mr Lenihan said: "We have committed to holding those byelections, whatever happens, in the first quarter of next year. It is a very simple matter of fact that it may be that we're in a general election before then."