FIANNA FÁIL has chosen Cllr Maurice Ahern (70), businessman and brother of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, to contest the Dublin Central byelection on June 5th.
At a party convention in the Skylon Hotel, Drumcondra, last night, Cllr Ahern defeated Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick for the nomination by 64 votes to 17. A third candidate, Cllr Tom Stafford, withdrew at the start of the meeting.
Speaking to delegates afterwards, Cllr Ahern said he was “delighted and honoured” and “really thrilled” to be selected. “It’s going to be a tough campaign, it’s not easy out there,” he said.
“I have to say that, since the Budget, it’s got tougher.”
Denying there was any split in Fianna Fáil in the constituency, he said: “There’s rivalry in Dublin Central.” But that was “natural” he continued.
Clearly disappointed, Cllr Fitzpatrick said: “It would have been perhaps easier and indeed very tempting to withdraw my name from selection at the convention but I do not believe that such an approach would have been in the best interest of my constituents, the constituency or democracy.”
She pledged to support Cllr Ahern’s campaign. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and local TD Cyprian Brady were in attendance.
Chairing the convention, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said Fianna Fáil would provide “the positive path” out of the economic crisis. “It will not be found in Enda Kenny’s platitudes and Eamon Gilmore’s emptiness,” he added. “It will not be found in those parties which shirk the tough decisions, and run from the specifics which governments all over the world are facing today.”
The Minister said that, “smug one-liners don’t cut dole queues or put food on the table”.
“Ireland has been transformed – look at the investment in this area, from high-profile projects like the Botanic Gardens and Croke Park to the improved roads, parks and footpaths, new corporation housing and refurbishment.
“ . . . Only Fianna Fáil has a plan and the leadership to get Ireland through this crisis,” he said.