Former FG deputy seeking Dublin Mid West nomination

Former Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald is to attempt to make a political comeback at the next general election, and is seeking…

Former Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald is to attempt to make a political comeback at the next general election, and is seeking a nomination to stand in the Dublin Mid West constituency.

Ms Fitzgerald, a former chairwoman of the Council for the Status of Women, was previously a TD in Dublin South East for 10 years.

She lost her seat in the 2002 general election to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.

Ms Fitzgerald, who lives close to Dublin Mid West which is centred on the Lucan and Clondalkin area, is the third Fine Gael hopeful to put her name forward in the constituency.

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Former Fine Gael senator and sitting councillor on South Dublin County Council Therese Ridge and party activist Francis Fitzpatrick are also seeking a nomination in the constituency.

Meanwhile Fine Gael has selected three candidates to stand in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. They were selected at a convention which took place at the Lyragh Estate hotel.

Sitting TD and director of strategy Phil Hogan was selected on the first count, along with senator John Paul Phelan.

Carlow-based senator Fergal Brown was selected on the second count, beating Carlow county councillor Denis Foley.

Party activist Pat Dowling withdrew before the convention got under way.

Eoin Pattison, the nephew of former ceann comhairle and outgoing deputy Seamus Pattison, has had his name formally put forward to Labour's Carlow-Kilkenny constituency convention on February 19th.

He beat Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin by 23 votes to 17 to secure the nomination from the Charlie Smyth branch.

His uncle, Seamus Pattison, is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming days that he is retiring at the next election following a 45-year career in the Dáil.