This article is from page 7 of the 2006-05-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
THE Fianna Fáil Dáil Ceantair in Clare have come out in favour of having Senator Brendan Daly added to the party ticket for next year’s General Election.
Its AGM last Friday night unanimously supported a motion in support of the Cooraclare man. A decision was taken by the 70 party members present to write to the party’s General Secretary, Seán Dorgan, and the Chairman of the party’s Election Strategic Committee, Finance Minister, Brian Cowen, outlining their support.
Senator Daly met with Minister Cowen last week and discussed the possibility of adding his name to those of Deputy Tony Killeen and Senator Timmy Dooley, on the party ticket.
He said that he told Minister Cowen it would be “pointless” putting three candidates forward in Clare, unless actual positive steps were taken on Ennis General Hospital.
He said he was taking the support offered at Friday’s meeting very seriously and he would make his decision on whether to run next week.
“I am taking that very seriously and am very supported by this. These are the guys who run the show in the county,” he said.
He denied suggestions that the outcome of last Sunday week’s Fine Gael Convention would play any role in his eventual decision.
Clare Fianna Fáil Vice-President, Frank Conway, said there were no dissenting voices to proposals that Senator Daly be supported, as “the west needs somebody to represent them.”
“He should be added immediately,” he said.
Officers were elected to their positions for the coming year were: Chairman, Denis Hayes; Secretary, Martin O’Loughlin; Treasurers, Mary O’Dwyer and PJ Ryan; PRO, Darragh McAllister; Youth Officer: Denis Murphy.