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Fine Gael targets three seats
21.01.09
Party seeks to treble
representation in June’s County Council election
By Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
FINE Gael says it is targeting three of the seven
seats on offer in the Inishowen Electoral Area in
June’s County Council election.
With Culdaff-based Bernard McGuinness the party’s
only sitting councillor, the party is hoping to
treble its Inishowen representation and is yet to
decide on whether to employ a three or four
candidate strategy. |
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Party sources have said
that in addition to McGuinness in north Inishowen it
will run a Buncrana-based candidate and one from the
south of the peninsula. Town Councillors Peter
McLaughlin and Paul Bradley are in the frame for the
Buncrana spot, while Keith Roulston and Burnfoot’s
John Ryan are in contention in south Inishowen.
Should the party decide on a four-candidate
strategy, Greencastle’s Mickey McCormick, chairman
of the Fine Gael organisation in Inishowen, is in
contention for the |
fourth nomination, as
is Martin Farren who ran unsuccessfully in 2004.
“All strategies are under consideration and a final
decision will be made at convention next month,” Mr
McCormick said. “But every party is crying out for
new blood and there will need to be big changes,
both locally and nationally, if we’re to get out the
crisis we’re in. The country is nearly bankrupt but
no one will admit it and we need the right people –
people that understand how things work – and not the
same old faces from whichever party.” |
McCormick was also
critical of the powers stripped from county
councillors and transferred to the council executive
in Lifford and to central government in Dublin.
In south Inishowen Keith Roulston has been nominated
by the Foyle and Swilly (Newtown/Carrigans) branch
of Fine Gael while John Ryan is also seeking a
nomination.
“Until now I’ve been mostly involved in agri-politics
so this will be a new venture for me,” Mr Roulston,
who is |
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currently treasurer of Donegal IFA, said.
He added that his focus would be on ensuring a fair
deal for farmers and other rural dwellers and the
delivery of proper roads, water and sewerage
services.
“In the current economic climate there’s an
obligation on the Council to use people’s money
wisely and that’s not something that could always
have been said either locally or nationally.”
“I’ve always had political aspirations but until now
the time wasn’t right,” Mr Ryan said. “I was
approached by members of the party and have
considered it for several months and decided to
throw my hat in the ring and seek a nomination.”
“Joe McHugh polled very well in Inishowen the Dáil
election and with perhaps the worst Government this
country has ever had things have improved for the
party since then. I think Fine Gael will have a good
election in both the locals and Europeans.” |
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