Tag Archives: general election

  There were no surprises at the Clare Fine Gael Dáil Selection Convention as the party’s two outgoing deputies – Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen and Deputy Joe Carey were returned unopposed. There was standing room only as delegates packed the Auburn Lodge Hotel on Monday night to select their General Election team. Three candidates were nominated Deputy Pat Breen, Deputy Joe Carey and Senator Martin Conway. Delegates were told that the national directive was to select just two candidates at the convention with the option that another candidate may be added, if necessary at a later stage. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin were criticised for causing the latest political crisis, which has seen the country on the brink of a General Election. Senator Conway seemed to be unaware of the latest revelations concerning beleaguered Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald when he stated that he was proud in what she has achieved in her department. The need for a contest …

Poll-topp er in the last local elections, Councillor Cathal Crowe is seriously considering contesting the next general election following the unexpected transfer of almost 6,000 voters into the Clare constituency. A new report published by the Constituency Commission recommends that the high variance in the constituency be addressed by the transfer of 5,994 people from the electoral division of Ballyglass in Limerick City to Clare. This will restore the breach of the county boundary for the next general election. The last deputy from the area was Patrick Brennan from Meelick, who was elected for Cumman na nGael in the 1920s. Councillor Crowe revealed to The Clare Champion that he will discuss the possibility of seeking a coveted place on the Fianna Fáil general election ticket with his family and political supporters over the coming days. “I would love to be a TD for Clare. I would love a chance to win a place on the Fianna Fáil ticket for the …

TWO people involved in last year’s general election in Clare were referred to gardaí, after a failure to furnish donation statements/statutory declarations. The Standards in Public Office Commission sent 66 files to An Garda Síochána, including ones on Niamh O’Brien, Fís Nua’s candidate for Clare and her election agent, Greim na hEaladh. Ms O’Brien said she actually believed she had returned the required documents and she expects the matter will be sorted out easily. “I actually thought I had returned documents and they didn’t get them. Tony Mulqueen (Commissioner for Oaths) will tell you I was up with him signing them. I’m going to have to fill them out again. I’m not one bit worried about it or bothered about it; it’s not as if there are big, brown envelopes coming my way. I wouldn’t have received anything over €100 so it’s all very basic.” Ms O’Brien said she has spoken to gardaí about the issue in recent days and …

Clare independent TD Dr Michael Harty has expressed his frustration over the failure of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to engage in meaningful discussions about supporting a new minority government led by the other party. Dr Harty has also confirmed no agreement has been reached between five rural independent deputies and Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil to support a new rainbow coalition. However, both parties have agreed to the proposed introduction of a new rural affairs minister with a substantial budget. According to Dr Harty, one of the main tasks of the new minister is to “rural-proof” proposed decisions taken by other government departments to assess their impact on rural communities. The Kilmihil-based deputy has joined Deputy Michael Collins from West Cork; Denis Naughton, Roscommon; Mattie McGrath, Tipperary and Noel Grealish, Galway, in a team of rural deputies who have held discussions with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil about a potential government partnership agreement. Dr Harty said the group, which …

The political career of Michael McNamara may be over, as the Labour Party has opted not to nominate the East Clare man for the Seanad. Over the course of five years in the Dáil, Mr McNamara was an outspoken critic of his own party on several occasions. Memorably, he said it had an “ancient front bench” after the 2014 Local Elections and, in 2015, he was not part of the parliamentary party for a number of months, as he refused to support the Government’s disposal of the State’s share in Aer Lingus. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr McNamara, who lost his seat in the General Election, said it is now “almost certain” that he won’t get a nomination for the Agricultural Panel of the Seanad. Labour Senator Denis Landy is being nominated by the Greyhound Breeders’ Association of Ireland and Mr McNamara said the general secretary of the party has decided that Labour would not make any nomination itself. “I had …

Clare Fianna Fáil got their General Election strategy wrong, according to former Defence Minister and Fianna Fáil Deputy, Tony Killeen. His views are at odds with those of local Fianna Fáil director of elections, Gerry Reidy, who believes the entry of Dr Michael Harty into the Dáil race cost the party two seats. Speaking during a General Election debate, organised by The Clare Champion in Cáirde, Ennis, on Monday night, Mr Killeen said, “A lot of Fianna Fáil people are very exercised by the fact we got almost 3,000 more first preferences than Fine Gael and, even allowing for a slightly better transfer to Fine Gael from Labour, we only won one seat. “One person described it as a ‘monumental failure’. I don’t agree with him. The first step for Fianna Fáil in Clare is to admit we got it wrong. “I said previously that if we didn’t divide the vote more evenly, we would be in trouble and, if …

THREE of the four TDs addressed the crowd at the count centre in the Falls Hotel, with Timmy Dooley the sole absentee. Acknowledging  things didn’t look good a few weeks ago Joe Carey said, “When the Clare Champion poll came out we were fairly down. People said we’ll give you a vote but you probably don’t have a chance,” he said  of the poll that predicted his political demise. He quipped, “I’d like to say thank you to the Clare Champion,” something that was met with cheers and laughter from his supporters, who were in flying form after their man’s win. Pat Breen said it it was “a very difficult campaign” and promised the four TDs will work for the county which he says must benefit from the recovery. Michael Harty praised his team, saying sometimes there were more people involved than places to canvass such was the support. He praised everyone who put their name forward saying it takes …

AFTER Michael McDonagh’s votes were examined it became clear there was no need for a further recount, an exhausted Michael McNamara acknowledged this morning, as he exited the race. The gap of 85 was reduced to 81, but it wasn’t enough and a haggard looking McNamara admitted recent weeks have taken a toll on him. “I’ve been exhausted for about two weeks now. It’s hard, people who haven’t been in an election campaign mightn’t realise quite how hard it can be, physically demanding. But I’m not unique in that, no doubt there are 15 other candidates who are equally exhausted.” Reflecting on his five years in the Dáil, the Scariff man said, “I personally think the country is in a better place than it was in 2011. Not as good as I’d like but much better than it was. I’ll take pride in the fact that I supported a Government that left the country in a better place and also …