Independent TD Thomas Gildea has been ruffling some Fianna Fail feathers in Co Donegal with his decision to run in the county council elections.
The director of elections for Fianna Fail in Donegal, Mr Brian Gallagher, made a strong attack on Mr Gildea in the local media, accusing the TD of "turning the knife into" the sitting Fianna Fail councillor in Glenties, Mr Francis Brennan.
The Glenties councillor has always supported Mr Gildea's antiMMDS group, and according to Fianna Fail, helped get him elected as a TD.
Mr Gildea told The Irish Times he believed it was a case of "sour grapes" and said he believed it was important to have more Independents on Donegal County Council. "They [Fianna Fail] seem to be under the mistaken assumption that because I support the Government in the Dail votes, that they own me, but that is not the case," Mr Gildea said.
Fianna Fail members are particularly angry at Mr Gildea's criticism of sitting councillors. "I have been to meetings and seen officials and councillors taking the same line, sometimes against the wishes of the electorate. It seems as if the councillors are not always working for the benefit of the electorate," Mr Gildea said. He was unhappy with some planning decisions.
Mr Gallagher has admitted that as a sitting TD, Mr Gildea would be "a formidable candidate" and as such would cause problems for Mr Brennan, the sole Fianna Fail councillor in the Glenties electoral area.
The contest should be closely fought as all six sitting councillors are running again and have been joined by six more hopefuls. Mr Gallagher stressed that Fianna Fail takes the same stance as Mr Gildea on the TV deflector issue on which he was elected.
Mr Brennan, meanwhile, said he believed he would hold onto his seat on the basis of his record.