CLARE Deputy Cathal Crowe has been transferred to a new internal Fianna Fail committee on Northern Ireland from his initial appointment on a commission assessing the aims, ideology and objectives of the party.
The FF press office statement comes after questions were raised by Clare Fianna Fáil members at a recent meeting about whether or not Deputy Crowe was appointed to the strategy committee.
Last October, Deputy Crowe posted an announcement on social media about his appointment by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to a new commission chaired by Kildare North Deputy James Lawless, which will examine Fianna Fail’s strategy over the coming years.
The Meelick Deputy also confirmed this appointment in an interview with the Clare Champion at the time.
A press release announcing the establishment of a new commission on the party’s aim and objectives on September 29 didn’t include Deputy Crowe as one of its new members.
Deputy Crowe was, however, mentioned in a Fianna Fáil press release announcing a new committee on Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement, which was issued on January 6.
Responding to Clare Champion queries, a spokesman for the Fianna Fáil press office moved to clear up the issue.
“Deputy Cathal Crowe was initially appointed to the Commission to Review the Aims and Objectives of Fianna Fáil by the Taoiseach but following a discussion with Cathal and given Cathal’s interest in Northern Ireland and the Shared Island initiative, the Taoiseach instead appointed him to the Northern Ireland and Good Friday Agreement committee.”
In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, Deputy Crowe said he is delighted and honoured to be chosen by the Taoiseach to serve on the Northern Ireland committee.
“Last October, an Taoiseach appointed me to serve on a commission that he set up to look at the aims, objectives and future of Fianna Fáil. He subsequently asked if I would transfer to this new committee and I’m delighted to now take on that role.
“I joined Fianna Fáil because of its republican ideals and I hope to really get my teeth into the work of this committee in the coming months.”
“I have always prided myself on being a republican but over the years, my views on republicanism and how a united Ireland might look in the future have been refined. Partition has never been a good thing for Ireland and Brexit has taught us the huge importance of society functioning without borders.”
“I believe that the Good Friday Agreement was very important in terms of bringing peace and stability to our island but it should be viewed as a stepping stone to deeper integration of our communities, hopefully leading at some point in the future to a border poll and the uniting of our island,” he stated.
By Dan Danaher