Fianna Fáil headquarters has imposed a candidate as running mate to Eamon O'Cuiv and Frank Fahey in Galway West, it was announced today.
The party's ardcomhairle was forced to intervene after a selection convention in January year broke up in chaos. Headquarters later decided prospective candidates should be interviewed.
It was expected that the successful candidate would be announced by the Taoiseach last week at the Galway races, but a decision was again deferred.
Today, though, the national constituencies committee, which is chaired by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, declared that Galway City councillor Michael Crowe would join Mr O'Cuiv and Mr Fahey in contesting the five-seat constituency.
Mr Crowe was selected after being a surprise interviewee among five seeking the candidacy.
The party's selection convention in January was abandoned amid acrimonious scenes over headquarters' insistence that only three candidates should run rather than four.
One activist jumped onto the stage and grabbed the microphone off convention chairman Minister for State Tony Killeen amid calls of "listen to the grassroots" from the floor. The convention was then abandoned.
Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats hold seats in the constituency along with Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister of State at the Department of Justice Frank Fahey.
Mr Fahey's power base is in the south of the constituency, while Mr O Cuiv draws the bulk of his support from the predominantly Gaeltacht areas of Connemara.
With Padraic McCormack not contesting for Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil are targeting Galway West for a gain, and Mr Crowe's selection gives the party a more solid platform in Galway city, where the former minister Maire Geoghagan-Quinn used to have a strong presence.
His selection will be controversial among some members of the constituency party, however. Mr Crowe, an auctioneer, joined the party last April having been elected to the council as an independent.
"I hope to be a strong candidate in the Galway city area where an ever-growing population, in partnership with sound Government policy, is driving our continued economic success," Mr Crowe said today.
In an apparent reference to the acrimony surrounding the selection, Mr Crowe added: "Only a vigorous and highly organised campaign will achieve our objectives. I hope to work closely with my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Galway West in our sustained efforts to deliver for the people in this constituency."