TDs secure places on FF ticket

TWO sitting Fianna Fáil TDs were last night automatically selected to run for the party in the Meath West constituency in the next general election after a third candidate withdrew his nomination.

Communications Minister Noel Dempsey and Deputy Johnny Brady secured the nomination for the two places on the Fianna Fáil ticket at the selection convention in the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells.

This was after local Fianna Fáil councillor Shane Cassells withdrew from the selection process before a vote was taken on the candidates for this new three-seater constituency

Cllr Cassells unsuccessfully ran for Fianna Fáil in the Meath by-election in March

And party insiders expressed surprise Mr Cassells sought to run in Meath West in the first place, even though his support base is in that area.

Meath used to be a single, five-seat constituency, but has been split into two three-seaters for the next election. The young councillor had been expected to run in Meath East alongside sitting Fianna Fáil TD Mary Wallace.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party held a hotly-contested selection convention for the Dublin North constituency last night.

Five candidates were seeking the nomination to replace sitting Labour TD Sean Ryan, who will retire at the next election.

Among the candidates seeking nomination were: Deputy Ryan’s brother, Brendan, Cllrs Ciaran Byrne, Peter Coyle and Tom Kelleher, and former Labour vice-chairman Henry Haughton.

The successful candidate was Deputy Ryan’s brother, Brendan. The convention was held in Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords.