This article is from page 14 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
FINE GAEL made history in the West County Hotel on Sunday – the largest selection convention in the party’s seven decades was staged, but it brought with it a whiff on controversy following the controversial decision by the top brass to deny a vote to 300 members of the youth wing of the party.
It prompted the 11th hour withdrawal of Councillor John Crowe who hit out at the party’s top brass over the decision. However, Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran was making no apologies for the controversial move.
“There is a procedure whereby one has to register as a voter. It was deemed that proper procedures weren’t followed,” he told The Clare People .
“If you were a new member of Young Fine Gael you had to attend an AGM.
“What we were really concerned about was the thought that there was a possibility that people would be signing up members to try to get selected at convention.
“We have to be very transparent in all our dealings, so the matter was appealled and the executive council of the party made a decision at the end of the day and some people were denied the opportunity to vote,” he added.
Convention chairman, Deputy Jim O’Keeffe, refused to be drawn on the controversy, preferring instead to dwell on the positive that the event represented the largest gathering at any Fine Gael selection convention in the country.
“I wouldn’t get involved in that controversy at all,” he said. “I think it is a great thing that we have so many members here. Quite a lot of them are new members and we are delighted to see new members coming in.
“We are a very open party and it’s great that they are coming in. I hope that they stay the course and become committed and long established members of the party.
“I want each of you delegates to secure ten votes for Fine Gael candidates selected for the General Election – if you do that Fine Gael will have two quotas and two seats. That’s the objection of this exercise. It is crucial that there are two seats in Clare for Fine Gael in the next election.
“I will be reporting to Enda Kenny on Tuesday – it will be a very strong report, it will be a very encouraging report.
“I have evidence before my own eyes of the vibrancy of the party in Clare. I think it is a great sign – I am hugely enthused by what I have seen here.
“I would wish that the enthusiasm and commitment that I have seen was translated in like measure all over the country in every constituency,” added Deputy O’Keeffe.