Conflict has broken out within Fianna Fáil ranks in the west, following the decision by the Minister of State for Labour, Mr Frank Fahey, to challenge Connacht-Ulster MEP Mr Seán Ó Neachtáin for the party's European election nomination.
Fianna Fáil has confirmed that a selection convention will now be held in Roscommon on February 28th, following cancellation of the scheduled convention in Mayo last weekend.
Yesterday, Mr Fahey cited internal party polls as the reason for his decision to stand in the European election in Connacht-Ulster, along with Minister of State for Transport Dr Jim McDaid.
This research had indicated that Mr Ó Neachtáin would not be elected on June 11th, in a vote where the party is determined to regain two seats in Connacht-Ulster.
However, Mr Ó Neachtáin said yesterday that he was suspicious of such polls and was disappointed in the way that he had been treated by Fianna Fáil head office. Five Fianna Fáil Dáil ceantairs in the west, including Galway West, Mr Fahey's own constituency, had given him their support, Mr Ó Neachtáin said.
Mr Ó Neachtáin refused to confirm that two senior Cabinet ministers had asked him not to run, but it is understood that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, made the approach .
Yesterday, Mr Fahey said he had made his decision after long deliberation.
However, Mr Ó Neachtáin accused his party of "anti-democratic" behaviour and said that he was glad that it had now decided to hold the convention.
Fianna Fáil declined to release the research conducted on the Connacht-Ulster constituency to which Mr Fahey referred, but said it stood over his comments.