FINE GAEL’S latest recruit, Cllr Deirdre Forde from Cork has denied she left Fianna Fáil because the party decided to run a Minister’s brother for the local elections in the same electoral area as herself.
Welcoming Ms Forde to his party’s ranks, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told a press conference at Leinster House yesterday: “Deirdre Forde is a formidable political personality as the former chairperson of the Fianna Fáil councillors’ group nationally.
“Her decision to join the Fine Gael party is based on her own perception of politics, the drift in Irish politics, and her concern for the future of her country, our people and her own local constituents.”
Asked if her move was influenced by the decision of Fianna Fáil to run Pádraig Martin, twin-brother of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin in the same Carrigaline electoral area as herself in the June local elections, Cllr Forde replied: “Not at all. This is about representing the people of Douglas and Carrigaline to the best of my ability. I’m a very straightforward person. I deal straight with people.”
Asked if she had been worried that she would not get support as a Fianna Fáil candidate if a Minister’s brother was in the constituency, she replied: “Well, naturally it is a very difficult constituency, particularly with the polls at the moment, and I would be up against a Minister’s brother and a TD’s brother [Cllr Séamus McGrath, brother of Fianna Fáil TD, Michael McGrath]. That was quite difficult but that could be got over. My main focus really is looking after the people that look after me.”
Asked if she had a difficulty with family members of established politicians running for election she said: “My focus at the moment is getting myself elected. I don’t tend to get drawn into side-issues.”
When asked to comment on remarks she made last January about Fianna Fáil “allowing dynasties to be perpetuated”, Ms Forde said: “As chair of the councillors’ forum, life on the ground can be very difficult for councillors and my position at that time was, political parties don’t necessarily treat their councillors with respect or look at the position that they’re in, in trying to get re-elected, and that was my focus at the time as chair of the councillors’ forum.”
Fianna Fail’s local organization in Cork South Central strongly criticised Cllr Forde yesterday, saying: “Her decision smacks of unfortunate political opportunism which we have no doubt the public will see through.”