FF CONTROVERSY:FORMER CABINET minister Séamus Brennan's closest political ally has called on fellow Fianna Fáil members in Dublin South not to choose Mr Brennan's son, Shay to run in next month's byelection.
The decision of Frank Lahiffe, who worked for years with the late Mr Brennan, to intervene so publicly caused surprise within the party yesterday.
Delegates will choose between Shay Brennan and Senator Maria Corrigan when they meet tonight for the constituency convention in the Goat Inn in Goatstown.
In an e-mail and letter, Mr Lahiffe said he and the Frank Aiken Cumann are “delighted to fully support” Ms Corrigan.
He went on: “It has been well-flagged since the death of the late Séamus Brennan some 10 months ago that Maria Corrigan was the logical person to contest the byelection, having well served her apprenticeship before the people of Dublin South on several occasions, increasing her share of the vote [and Fianna Fáil’s share] each time . . . It is now time to move on to select the best person for the byelection and I believe that Maria Corrigan is that person.”
Some months ago, Mr Brennan jnr, who works for Anglo Irish Bank, was understood to have ruled himself out of the running, partly on the grounds that opponents would seek to lay the bank’s misfortunes at his door.
However, Mr Brennan on Monday said he believed most people now appreciated there was a difference between senior bank management and “tens of thousands” of lower-ranking bank officials who are not responsible.
Pointing to Mr Brennan’s employment in Anglo, Mr Lahiffe, in a letter received by some party members in recent days, said “one of the roots of the problem” that Ireland now faces is the way in which “financial institutions pursued their objectives”.
Ms Corrigan is not believed to have been aware of the tone of the letter which, privately, has attracted criticism among party members in the constituency.
More than 80 delegates are expected to vote tonight, though local party figures predicted Mr Brennan is currently ahead of Ms Corrigan in pledged support.
Fianna Fáil is unlikely to win the byelection, but second preferences from its chosen candidate could decide the race between Fine Gael candidate George Lee – if confirmed at his selection convention tonight – and Labour’s Alex White.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s convention to choose a candidate for the Dublin Central byelection will take place this evening at 9pm in the Skylon Hotel.
Three outgoing party councillors – all of whom are also seeking re-election to Dublin City Council – have been nominated: Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, Cllr Maurice Ahern and Cllr Tom Stafford.
Meanwhile, Senator Ivana Bacik was confirmed as Labour’s candidate in Dublin Central yesterday. She said she would work “flat out between now and polling day to secure a victory”. She added: “On the doorsteps there is frustration, anger, even rage at the current Government. But when you talk to people, there is an equally strong desire for change.”
The Green Party will today formally launch David Geary as its candidate in Dublin Central and Elizabeth Davidson in Dublin South.
