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DAVID MCGUINNESS SAID that his decision to quit Fianna Fáil made sense in the wake of his disillusionment with the party, but added that it doesn’t make it any easier.
The newly-independent Fingal councillor announced his decision to quit the party earlier today in the wake of his failure to be selected as its general election candidate in Dublin West in February.
The two-time failed by-election candidate says he hasn’t decided if he will join another party or remain independent, but said he will more than likely run in the next general election.
McGuinness told TheJournal.ie there is “not a hope in hell” of him joining Sinn Féin, but did not entirely rule out Renua Ireland, which he claimed had approached him indirectly in recent weeks.
“I really believe I am a centrist politician. I don’t see Renua in that light. I could be wrong on that,” he said.
On his decision to quit the party, McGuinness said it was a difficult one but said his concerns about the direction of Fianna Fáil “had fallen on deaf ears” within the party.
“I don’t take any pleasure in it, Fianna Fáil was a big part of my life. But, look, you have to take stock and make a call in the interests of what you’re doing.”
He insisted his decision was not sour grapes after failing to win the recent selection convention and said he is “too much of a decent fella” to bare ill will towards people in Fianna Fáil.
I don’t harbour sour grapes towards anyone and I never have. People that know me know that I’m just a decent skin. I’ve been centre stage for the past three years but the rug has been taken from underneath me with regard to Fianna Fáil.
The Blanchardstown-based councillor claimed he was promised a meeting with party leader Micheál Martin after his failure to win selection in Dublin West in February, but said “it never happened”.
Fianna Fáil has not yet commented on his departure.
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So the councillor insists it’s not sour grapes? Well if it looks like sour grapes and sounds like sour grapes, I wonder what else could it be?
Californian wine?
Fianna Fáil whine!
Sour grapes make a ‘whine’ with a bitter bouquet.
Best comment all dat
Best comment all day !
I notice that the councillors opinion of his party changed at exactly the same time they chose a different candidate for the election.
Happened to notice that too! But it most likely just a coincidence!
It’s about getting into the dail at any cost. Party doesn’t even come into it. This guy is just following the typical Irish political mantra.
Step 1: Get into the dail at any cost
Step 2: Stay in the dail and ride the gravy train for as long as possible. Serving the Irish people in the midst of it all is completely optional
Another one jumping ship.
B
Fianna Fail played a big part in my life,my brothers life who’s in Australia and my youngest sister who lives in Birmingham.Where were you when the shit hit the fan?.Nowhere, now please stay there.
Birmingham ? f*ck things must of been really tough to force that decision
Love I think.But everytime she comes home ,she cries when she goes back.I don’t know does she miss us or hate him.I think she just misses home.
All these lads and lasses jumping overboard and becoming independent when the time suits them, clearly can see the independents are about to do well in the next election and they would be better off running under that banner than that of a party. Don’t let the fool you.
So he left FF because they didnt listen to him, and he feels no malice. So he is now an independant that still believes FF policy…still as useful as he was before he left. Not. Do these people really think we are idiots?? Just because they jump ship ..or get moved sideways ..does not change anything, they still believe in party policies.
The real independants are the ones that never believed in the party whip system and stood up on their own two feet…they’ll be getting my vote
Unfortunately Jenni I hate to say this but by this time next year when his face is splashed across an independent poster quite a lot of people will probably have forgotten that he was a member of FF! Or will never have known in the first place! A lot of people don’t follow politics that closely and it’s them that he is trying to fool!
Yes Timber, like quite a few have forgot Mary Lou is an ex member of the FF party
And you can bet your ass that if he did somehow manage to get elected as an Independent candidate, Fianna Fail would be all over him trying to bring him back into the fold.
There are plenty of “Pretendipendents” about – don’t be fooled by any of them. He had no problem with Fianna Fail when they were destroying the country, and that tells you all you need to know about the man.
Complete and utter fake politician with zero concept of loyalty.
7 years to late buddy
Another rat jumping a sinking ship.
If this gentleman was selected to stand as a FF TD , he would still be in the FF fold.This man is party hopping to gain a position for himself. It’s called self interest.
Another idiot who thought he was better / bigger than party-
He will join another and it will still end in his failure- it’s his failure no one else to blame-
Has absolutely nothing to do with running out of gravy……..honest! :p
last one out of ff hq turn off the lights .
Translated to “I need to get my snout in the trough but there’s just not enough room in the Fianna Fail trough.”
This idiot is a serial loser. Backed by ff. He will realise this at his own expense at the next election.
FF reply: Who? Was he in our party, they all look so alike it is getting hard to tell
Bye bye ff.and this idiot.
In my experience anyone who refers to themselves as a decent skin, is in fact the exact opposite!
Just having a look at David’s renumeration and expenses,For 2013 he received just under €17k for representative payment.
Plus another €7.5k for an yearly allowance not bad dosh for a part time gig,While also teaching.
But we all know the garrunteed TD pension plus salary and expenses is the one to half,Saying that I think people who are on councils get paid a lump when they lose their seat.
Who?
Apparently TD Dara Calleary is about to join Renua. That will wake FF up.
Really? That would be fairly incredible. Dara is right at the top of FF. Can’t see M.Martin lasting if that happens
Politician, rat jumps ship, pig fighting to get snout in trough, same old same old. Plenty more to follow suit
Are you in favor of the water tax and water metering David? Yes or No?
Only when the fat pensions and salaries and expenses are stripped will we really see who wants to work for the better of the country!
None of the people in that picture are wearing trousers! Can see it from his eyes
Damn you!….you made me look into his eyes!…..uugh!
Who are the two straddling behind him does anyone know? Also do you think David browses through the comments about him here, he has a really long thumb in that pic too..freaky
Jumped-up and ridiculously ambitious nobody quits FF because it’s not promoting him fast enough to suit his ego. This kind of story is becoming a cliché.
There’ll be plenty more stories like this, wannabe career politicians spotting a possible opportunity for a faster way to that state salary and/or pension. They wouldn’t know the concept of public service if it hit them between the eyes.
Quitting what exactly ? You dimwit you’re just another cult member that couldn’t get his way so has a” revelation ” before a general election.
Party politics is for idiots , jog on .
Ah Michael there coming for you
Who is he?
” Give us back our money and IT equipment” Fianna Fáil say David McGuinnes ” kept” election Funding.
http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ff-exploring-ways-to-get-excouncillor-to-pay-17k-31130990.html
Traitor……
The guy to his left. I think he shot JR.
The days of party loyalty are slipping again… Happened in the 80s too tough times present tough and awkward party lines for some. When the going gets tough the lightweights get going.
Typical self-serving snake, St.Patrick you forgot this one!
Who would want him anyway…
anything for an easy buck eh?
Politicians have no loyalties only to them self getting elected getting the fat wages and pensions “I all right Jack feck the rest “
have your say