This article is from page 2 of the 2006-05-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
FIANNA FÁIL is expected to add Senator Brendan Daly to the party ticket for the forthcoming General Election, within the coming week. He will join Junior Minister Tony Killeen and Senator Timmy Dooley.
The west Clare senator is expected to agree to run following confirmation last week that €4.5 million of the €20 million outlined to upgrade the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ennis, is to be spent this year.
Party sources say that the former minister met with Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, during the week to discuss his future in politics.
While the matter hasn’t been finalised, the likelihood is a decision will be made by the weekend.
Promises of a Catscan for the hospital, coupled with some other visible improvements there, are likely to sway Daly towards running again.
An Oireachtas member with more than 30 years’ experience, he lost out to Senator Dooley and Junior Minister Killeen at the party’s convention in April. Days before the Clare delegates selected their candidates, Fianna Fáil headquarters decided that just two rather than the preferred three would be selected, with HQ to add the third.
After losing out and following weeks of speculation about his political intentions, Daly issued an ultimatum to his party.
The former minister said he would not agree to be added to the party ticket for the next election unless issues such as Ennis General Hospital and the ongoing wait for sewerage schemes were adequately addressed.
“I do not believe in issuing ultimatums, or making unattainable demands, but in the matter of the development of Ennis hospital, unless there is a very clear unambiguous decision, as far as I am concerned, Fianna Fáil will have to seek another candidate other than me to stand in the next election,” he told The Clare People.
“Unless there is a clear understanding that the Ennis hospital project is on track, the political positions is unsustainable,” he added.
“This time last year, I made it clear that I stake my political future on the safeguarding of Ennis General Hospital and was given assurances in that regard.”
Meanwhile, Clare hurler Niall Gilligan has denied that any approaches were made to him about running for Fianna Fáil in the election.