This article is from page 8 of the 2006-09-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
FIANNA Fáil may claim to be fit and healthy in Clare, but one wonders about the benefit of an injection of new blue blood suggested by its leader this week.
When answering questions about how difficult it was to encourage young people into the party, the Taoiseach said, “In people like Timmy Dooley, Cathal Crowe and Joe Carey, it is clear that we have young and eager people within our Party.”
It what could have been described as a Freudian slip, or even wishful thinking, but more likely a typo, the Taoiseach described how the future of the party was strong and secure in its young people, including “Joe Carey”, member of the well-known Fine Gael dynasty.
But the young Fine Gaeler was last night adamant that he was still a member of the party his father served as TD, and would be running for them in the next election.
Such an acquisition as Carey would indeed have been new blood for Fianna Fáil.
However, the Taoiseach maintained that the party was not having difficulties locating young eager candidates to march with the soldiers of destiny.
“Absolutely not, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe that the Fianna Fáil ticket here in Clare has a superb balance between experience and youth. Fianna Fáil in Clare has a very vibrant organisation and we are gifted with some fine young politicians for the future,” he said.
“Ógra Fianna Fáil in Clare is also one of the most active nationwide. Indeed, last year’s Ógra conference held in Ennis last February, and organised by the local Clare Ógra organisation, was hugely successful. They have also revived the De Valera Commemoration at which I was privileged to address last September. So I believe that youth and vitality are not something which Fianna Fáil are in any way lacking in county Clare.”
The Fianna Fail leader was also adamant that experience was important in any Government.
“It is important in politics that experience is not underestimated. Knowledge of the intricacies of the political system can be vital.”
“In Brendan Daly, Clare has a politician with this in abundance. I think it is also worth noting that Brendan will not be the only candidate contesting the next election in their 60s and that is good for Clare.”
Senator Daly will be joined on the hustings by Junior Minister Tony Killeen and Senator Timmy Dooley.