Runner-up now stands for PDs in Waterford

Tramore councillor Michael Flynn is to be the Progressive Democrats' election candidate in Waterford following the withdrawal of Mr Oliver Clery, the party announced yesterday.

Mr Clery, a city-based businessman and member of Waterford City Council, secured the nomination ahead of Mr Flynn, the only other candidate, 18 months ago. He has decided not to run due to ill health.

Waterford is one of a number of constituencies being targeted by the Progressive Democrats, which has twice held a seat there. Mr Flynn faces an uphill battle to change the status quo of two Fianna Fáil seats, one Labour and one Fine Gael.

Aged 39, he has been a member of the PDs since the party's foundation in 1986. "I was politically uncommitted until I read about the creation of a new, fresh, dynamic and radical political party in the International Herald Tribune while recovering from a car accident in Israel where I was working at that time."

The party leader, Ms Mary Harney, described Mr Flynn as a "can do" politician who had the energy, flair and determination to have a long and successful political career.

Mr Martin Cullen, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, won a Dáil seat for the PDs in 1987. He lost it two years later and regained it in 1992, but subsequently joined Fianna Fáil.

Mr Cullen and the other Fianna Fáil city-based candidate, Mr Brendan Kenneally, are favoured to hold their seats but they face a strong challenge from their party colleague, Mr Ollie Wilkinson, who is based in west Waterford and secured nearly 5,000 first-preference votes in 1997.

Fine Gael's Mr John Deasy is expected to take the seat being vacated by his father, Austin, while Labour's Mr Brian O'Shea is likely to retain the seat he has held since 1989.