THE Fianna Fail party has chosen a barrister and law lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, Mr Brian Lenihan (36), as its candidate in the Dublin West by election. He is the eldest son of the former Tanaiste, Brian Lenihan TD, who died recently.
There were three candidates before the selection convention in the West County Hotel, Lucan. On the first ballot, Mr Lenihan obtained 28 votes against 14 each for his rivals, Senator Marian McGennis and Mr Finbarr Hanrahan, a teacher and county councillor.
In a second, run off ballot, Mr Hanrahan won 38 votes against 14 votes for Senator McGennis. Mr Hanrahan then withdrew and supported Mr Lenihan for the nomination.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Lenihan said it would be an honour to serve the people of Dublin West in Dail Eireann and to work towards the next general election and a "much needed" change of government.
Referring to his late father's record as a Dail deputy for the constituency, he said "I hope that I can in my time and generation serve the people half as well as he did in his."
He continued "Politicians should not promise the moon and the stars. But it is important to tackle long term and youth unemployment in a serious and comprehensive manner and not just to win a few headlines in the run up to the budget."
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said the "stinging attack" by leaders of SIPTU on the Budget was a danger signal that the national partnership which had brought almost 10 years of industrial peace and stability could be at an end.
Chairing the convention, the Fianna Fail equality and law reform spokesman, Dr Michael Woods, described the Rainbow Coalition as a "three headed committee style government".
Mr Peter Brady, a Fine Gael county councillor and community activist, has announced that two of the party's eight branches in Dublin West are supporting him for the nomination in the by election.
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