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AN UNOFFICIAL SELECTION convention being held by Fianna Fáil members in Longford tonight has been described as a ‘sham’.
Over 260 party members have been invited to a meeting in the Longford Arms Hotel where they will be given an ”opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate to contest the forthcoming general election”.
However, Fianna Fáil said it would not recognise the convention or its outcome.
Connie Gerety Quinn was nominated as the Fianna Fáil candidate for Longford-Westmeath, alongside sitting TD Robert Troy, in controversial circumstances at a selection convention in October.
At the convention, which was described as ‘chaotic’, members were told that only a female candidate could be nominated. Gerety Quinn’s selection by default came at the expense of party activist Pat O’Rourke and local councillor Seamus Butler.
Members have since been attempting to convince Fianna Fáil’s national constituencies committee to re-run the convention and hold an open selection process without any directive.
However O’Rourke now says that tonight’s convention is an opportunity to force headquarters’ hand. He told TheJournal.ie:
This isn’t about Pat O’Rourke, Seamus Butler or Connie Gerety, this is about the people of Longford and ensuring that the most experienced candidates are put forward to represent them so that Longford gets exceptional representation after the next general election.
However, Butler described tonight’s event as a “sham” and an “unnecessary complication”.
At a meeting on 19 November members agreed to express no confidence in Gerety Quinn and implore headquarters to re-run the convention. There are also plans to picket a meeting of Fianna Fáil’s national executive next week.
Butler said this agreed approach was being undermined by what’s planned tonight, telling this website:
It’s an unnecessary complication. We agreed a plan of action and this is thrown in there. It’s political naivety there on behalf those who aren’t elected and are looking to stand [Pat O’Rourke]. He’s never stood for elected office.
“Who’s going to invigilate this? Who is running this? This has no standing within the party. It wasn’t discussed at the meeting on 19 November. I don’t trust the process.”
While he said he would attend, Butler said he would be making these views known to members, adding:
This is a sham. If I was selected or not it has no standing whatsoever and I certainly won’t be getting involved in efforts like this. It’s wrong.
O’Rourke insisted that the meeting tonight is in compliance with directions from headquarters and constitutes an election planning meeting.
He insisted: “The agenda is basically dealing with general election strategy where we are putting forward the views of members. It’s in actual compliance. Our meeting [tonight] is about campaign planning.”
However, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson said that Troy and Gerety Quinn are the candidates and that any meeting to consider alternative candidates would break party rules:
The National Constituencies Committee has not been formally notified of any meeting in the constituency to discuss alternative candidates and any such meeting would be outside of the party’s longstanding rules and procedures governing such matters. Such a meeting would therefore not be recognised by the party.
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Not shocking anymore. Kind of half expect this sort of stuff now.
What is it with this man and “conflicts of interests” ?
Nothing to see here move along now !!
Ah lads , cronyism in ireland ? NEVER !!
Of course he denies a conflict of interest. When did you ever read, “Minister admits conflict of interest.”
O’Reilly would deny today is Friday. He cant even lay in bed straight at this stage.
From a guy who pushed two primary care sites in his own constituency up the list of potential sites…still waiting on the criteria you used Stroker!
Then what exactly is it then? Walks like a duck…etc
Welcome to Ireland,probably the most corrupt country in Europe
Hands up who is shocked or surprised by this. …….
Richie rodgers
We’ll get there stroke by stroke.
Reilly involved again no surprise there to be honest.
Shattergate mark2 ….Reilly on the inside track…….FG/Lab even more corrupt than FF, there is a scary reality…..Resign James you have your money made…..
How come the 20,000 commission was so low? The going rate for a report like this was 125,000 in 2011 and the Health Partnership is not a charity!
Women of Ireland, come together and let us al put a stop to this madness, I’d like to c a man in the full throws of labour, having to face a 2 hr car journey. On lovely pot-holed roads!!!
If he appointed someone from outside the area, the complaint would be that they didn’t understand the area.
If he appointed someone without the medical knowledge, the complaint would be that someone who didn’t understand medical provision was making the decisions
If he appoints someone from inside the area with the right medical background, the complaint is that there’s a conflict of interest.
I wish people would state who they think should be appointed, because almost every decision can have some line of attack.
Kinda sums up JR. Anyway after the reshuffle it will be someone else’s problem.
How many absolute effin’ outrages are we, as a nation, prepared to put up with? This Minister and his shady pals should be run out of the country, let alone sacked.
And deny being in denial
How come this commission was 6 times less than the going rate for the job? A bargain at 20,000! Such reports cost 125,000 in 2011.
The Journal got it wrong! The Health Partnership predates 2008! in March 2005 the company wrote to the Dept of Finance highlighting their role in private health care ventures in Ireland, UK, Portugal and Germany and suggesting tax incentives for private sector players in e.g. direct service provision, the supply of high tech equipment, patient and staff accommodation, primary care provision, nursing home care, etc. Even hospital traffic management got a look in. Hard to believe no one in the West/North-West hospital group knew of Mr Daly’s involvement with this high profile healthcare company.
Why would anyone be surprised with this ruling class carryon, and they wonder why people voted for the left
The main conflict of interest here is the fact tgat Noel Daly wrote to revenue in 2005 with what could be described as a bluepriting which would see private interests profiting from tge removal of public services. In that letter it mentions how the private sector could provide accomodation for people who due to clousure of public services would have to travek greater distances.
Over 6 years later tgis man is appointed chair of a hospital group. In the space of little over a year his company is given the task of reviewing maternitu in the same region. This report is said to recommend many clousures.
Given all this histiry I cannot see how this review can hold any authority. Or indeed how anyone in this countru could trust its recommendations.
In fact this review ihas been damaged beyond repair. Hiwever it should be made available to the public.
Luje Ming Flaagan spoje about concerns that gospital staff had about how tgis revuew was completed. Perhaps he should come back to this important debate in Irish healthcare before he leaves fir Europe.
Reilly people dont believe a word from your lying mouth!
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