Grealish to support Kenny's nomination

INDEPENDENT'S VIEW:INDEPENDENT TD Noel Grealish has said he will support the nomination of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny for taoiseach next week.

Mr Grealish, who was deemed elected in Galway West, where a second recount was under way last night, told The Irish Times that he had phoned Mr Kenny to congratulate him and to confirm that he would support his nomination.

“The country is voting for change, that is clear, and he’s a west of Ireland man, so why would I not support him,” Mr Grealish said. “People want a stable government, as do our European partners,” Mr Grealish added.

The former Progressive Democrats TD and party leader had supported the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition from 2007, but withdrew his support on September 24th last year due to his concern about health cuts.

Mr Grealish voted against the budget in January and the timing of his break with the Government is said to have benefited his campaign. Mr Grealish, from Carnmore, was first elected to the Dáil in 2002, succeeding serving PD TD Bobby Molloy.

He was re-elected in 2007 and later that year confirmed he had held discussions with Fianna Fáil about joining the party but decided to stay with the PDs.

He was appointed chairman of the PD parliamentary party in June 2007, and was deputy leader until March 2009, when he became leader. The PDs were disbanded in November 2009 and he has served as an Independent since.