Convention row could see FF members withholding money from party

FIANNA Fáil members in Galway West could hit party headquarters where it hurts most — in the pocket — because of a row over a selection convention.

Local members are considering withholding money collected in a fundraiser in a bid to make headquarters reconvene the convention for the constituency.

The Fianna Fáil national collection is due to be taken next weekend and is an important party fundraiser.

However, there is resentment towards headquarters by many local members because it has yet to reconvene the convention, which imploded in January.

Pleas to reconvene it have met with stout opposition from headquarters.

As a result, more militant party members have called for action during the collection. Some have called for all members to boycott it — both by refusing to donate to, or collect for, it. Others have warned this would be counterproductive as any cumann which does not hold the collection ceases to be recognised by party headquarters.

Others have suggested the collection should be used as a bartering tool. They say it should be held but only e5-10 from each area be sent to Dublin, with the rest retained until headquarters agrees to hold a convention.

The collection from a constituency can raise more than e10,000.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Galway and Fine Gael member Brian Walsh has emerged as the favourite to secure the Dáil seat left by the party’s retiring veteran, Padraic McCormack.

Mr McCormack, 63, stunned the party when he announced on Friday that he would be retiring from politics next year.

His decision left Fine Gael scrambling for a strong candidate and Mr Walsh has been put under pressure to reverse his decision not to run in next year’s election.

“My decision not to run ... was based on my understanding that Padraic would be the candidate.

“Obviously, I will now have to revisit my decision and discuss it with my family and the party,” he said.