serious difficulties
A LEADING Fianna Fail figure in Donegal yesterday (Thursday) admitted the amalgamation with Independent Fianna Fail is in serious difficulties.
Mr Hughie McDaid, Chairman of the Fianna Fail Dáil Ceanntair in Donegal North East was loathe to say it was basically in tatters but admitted it needed a 'bit of serious counselling'. His comments follow the visit of the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Cowen to Letterkenny last weekend where further tensions between the two organisations emerged.
"The marriage of the two organisations took place in Dublin and is not working in Donegal on the ground," Mr McDaid said.
He revealed no meeting or talks, formally or informally, took place with the Minister for Finance during his visit last weekend on the possibility of adding a third candidate to the Fianna Fail ticket from the Letterkenny area. Following the return to Fianna Fail of Niall Blaney in July the party is running a two candidate strategy with Blaney and Deputy Cecilia Keaveney on the ticket.
However, this has caused deep resentment in Fianna Fail circles with rank and file members in Letterkenny claiming they have been left without representation. They are now demanding that sitting TD Dr James McDaid, who had announced his retirement from politics, be added onto the party ticket.
"There was no meeting last weekend with Brian Cowen. As far as we are concerned the ball is in the hands of headquarters in Dublin. We're demanding that there is a selection convention so the grass roots members can have their say. We're also looking for a third candidate to be added to the field. The local organisation wants Jimmy (Dr McDaid) to run," the Dáil Ceanntair Chairman said.
"The Cowen Committee has the power to add or delete candidates in certain constituencies. Since Niall Blaney joined Fianna Fail there has been no moves whatsoever to amalgamate the two cumann in each organisation. In Fianna Fail there are about 70 cumann and a further 30 in Independent Fianna Fail. As far as the local organisation is concerned a proposal passed at a Dáil Ceanntair meeting last July that no further amalgamation talks proceed until a decision on the number of candidates and a selection convention is decided still stands," Mr McDaid said.
Asked was the deal effectively in tatters the Dáil Ceanntair Chairman said at the very least it needed a 'serious bit of counselling'.
At last weekend's visit a large Fianna Fail contingent turned up to greet the Minister on Friday at the opening of Gallagher's Hotel in Letterkenny. However, at a function to celebrate the life and times of Neil T Blaney at the Silver Tassie later in the evening there was a poor turnout of Fianna Fail figures.
This has fuelled speculation the amalgamation is far from being a happy one.
"Last weekend showed there is still a lot of work to be done. Nobody has anything personally against Niall Blaney. It was the way this thing was handled from Dublin. The marriage is on the rocks here in Donegal," one source said.
