FF councillors angry over election strategy

A MAJORITY of Clare Fianna Fáil councillors have broken ranks with party headquarters by insisting the party should put forward an internal candidate for the Presidential election.

It is widely speculated that a new presidential strategy sub-committee will recommend Fianna Fáil should opt out of the race for the Áras, amid concern about spending an estimated €700,000 on a campaign when the party is at a low ebb in the opinion polls and has significant debts.
However, local Fianna Fáil councillors have insisted the party should not opt out of an election for the first time since the foundation of the State and believe MEP Brian Crowley would have been the best internal candidate to mount a credible bid for office.
The Ireland South European representative withdrew from the race, however, on Tuesday, stating he didn’t “feel free” to seek a nomination, after the leadership publicly stated an internal candidate should not be chosen.
Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes said it would have been far better if the party had come out and supported Mr Crowley, who he felt would have had a great chance of winning the election. The mayor brought Mr Crowley to an Ógra Fianna Fáil function attended by 500 people in Feakle when he was a senator.
“Brian Crowley is a very affable, popular politician, who has a great ability to connect with ordinary people and would have attracted a lot of support from outside the party,” he said.
Councillor Pat Daly said his party leader Micheál Martin has made a “serious error” by not selecting Brian Crowley as a candidate in the election.
“Brian Crowley was the only Fianna Fáil candidate with a realistic chance of winning this election. He has shown interest in this job for many years and I believe the party leadership has let him down, particularly since he was prepared to run. With Crowley out of the race, I don’t think Fianna Fáil should contest this election,” he said.
Councillor Bill Chambers said he always held the view Fianna Fáil should contest the presidential election and felt the MEP was the best candidate, as he had a proven track record of topping the poll in elections and had no political baggage. The Cooraclare councillor expressed his disappointment a man of his calibre had been “shafted”.
Councillor PJ Kelly declared it should be “Crowley or nobody”, as the MEP would have attracted a large non-party vote, which is vital in a presidential election.
The Lissycasey councillor stated there was no point in Deputy Martin holding consultative meetings throughout Munster, which showed Crowley had great support if he went off and took a decision that didn’t reflect this.
Councillor Pat Keane said the party should field a candidate and felt the MEP would have produced a serious fight because he is a very approachable likeable politician.
Councillor Michael Hillery added that it would be a “sad day” if the party didn’t put forward a candidate for the Áras and felt Mr Crowley was the best candidate for the task.
Councillor Cathal Crowe, who worked as the MEP’s parliamentary assistant in 2002, said he was bitterly disappointed with Mr Crowley’s decision to withdraw, as he felt he could have won the election.
Considering other candidates had the benefit of three months’ campaigning, Councillor Crowe argued the party has left it too late to enter a candidate now, delaying too long in their decision-making process.
However, Councillor Tom McNamara said Micheál Martin is still waiting for the recommendation of the sub-committee and felt the best option is to back whatever option is recommended by this group.
Councillor McNamara stressed it is important to make a decision on this issue and agreed Mr Crowley would have been the best party candidate.
Clare TD Timmy Dooley said he respected Brian Crowley’s decision not to contest the election.
He added that said the sub-committee is due to meet to consider a number of issues next week and once conclusions are reached, they would be put to a meeting of the parliamentary party to make a decision on the matter.
He stressed no final decision has been made on whether to run a Fianna Fáil candidate in the race for the Áras.