Treacy and Finnerty not contesting election

GALWAY County Councillor Gerry Finnerty has said he will not contest the upcoming general election in the Galway East constituency. Before Christmas, the Tubber publican had said he was considering his position but would not put his name forward against Deputy Noel Treacy.

However, this week Deputy Treacy, who has represented East Galway in the Dáil for almost 30 years, said he is medically unfit to contest the election.
It is public knowledge that the long-serving deputy has been under medical care for the past year after being diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery last summer and commenced treatment earlier this month. This therapy will continue throughout February and into March.
“After detailed discussions with his medical team, he has been advised that he cannot fight a general election campaign during his treatment. This has forced him to withdraw from this weekend’s selection convention,” a statement from his office read.
“I do this with a great sense of regret and reluctance, as all of the expectations were that the general election would not happen before 2012. I was looking forward to being fully fit by then. It would be unfair to the Fianna Fáil Party, who have consistently nominated me, and the people of Galway East, who have consistently elected me for three decades, to enter an election campaign in which I could not actively participate on a daily basis,” Deputy Treacy stated.
Councillor Finnerty was widely considered the favourite to take Deputy Treacy’s place on the Fianna Fáil ticket but on Wednesday he said he will not run.
“I am not going this time and I won’t change my decision,” he told The Clare Champion on Wednesday.
“I have to look at my own situation. I think we are heading into a period of instability and in my opinion, the next Government will be made from Fine Gael and Labour. I think back to ’81 and ’82, there were three elections in two years. I have to weigh up the cost. Running in an election costs a lot of money. I would have to give up my job and I don’t have a job where I can just take a break and it would be held for me,” Councillor Finnerty continued.
The mart manager said he had been asked to reconsider his position but that he would not do so on this occasion.
“I believe in being honest with people and I think I am honest with people. People have been ringing me, looking for me to reconsider. I have said I won’t reconsider. I won’t run this time. I wouldn’t rule myself out as being a candidate in a future election but not this time. That said, I will find it difficult anytime to win a seat here because I am at the very southern end of the constituency. [Deputy] Frank Fahey found himself in a similar position before he moved to Galway West and he had a higher profile than me,” Councillor Finnerty stated.
“There is nothing as devastating as being beaten in an election for everyone involved, not just the candidate. It is very hurtful for people to support someone who does not win and I have been that person out canvassing for someone else when they don’t win. It is hard,” he concluded.
The party’s selection convention takes place in Loughrea on Sunday and it is understood that as many as 10 names have been put forward to be considered by local members.