O'Rourke to seek FF nomination

FORMER MINISTER Mary O’Rourke has announced that she will be seeking a Fianna Fáil nomination for the general election.

FORMER MINISTER Mary O’Rourke has announced that she will be seeking a Fianna Fáil nomination for the general election.

“Decision made. I am putting myself forward to run in the forthcoming general election. Convention for same will be held Monday, Jan 3rd,” she posted on twitter yesterday afternoon.

Deputy O'Rourke told The Irish Timeslast night: "I had a good discussion about it all with my family over Christmas."

The party will have three candidates in Longford-Westmeath. Sitting TDs Ms O’Rourke and the Longford-based Peter Kelly will be nominated without opposition.

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Third place on the ticket will be contested by Cllr Robert Troy and Cllr Aidan Davitt. Senator Donie Cassidy is not expected to go forward; Cllr Troy is his parliamentary assistant.

Ms O’Rourke was successively minister for education, health and public enterprise as well as being leader of the Seanad and deputy leader of Fianna Fáil.

She is an aunt of Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Minister of State for Science and Technology Conor Lenihan.

Deaglán  De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún, a former Irish Times journalist, is a contributor to the newspaper