Dáil seats winners lose membership

HAVING just won Dáil seats, two successful candidates yesterday went along to the monthly meeting of Limerick County Council only to learn they were no longer members.

Niall Collins, FF and Kieran O’Donnell FG, won seats in Limerick West and Limerick East respectively.

Both were elected to Limerick County Council in 2004.

Mr Collins said: “I was told that I was disenfranchised from the moment I was declared elected to the Dáil at the count on Friday. I knew that once I got into the Dáil I had to give up my seat on the council under the new dual mandate rule. However, myself and Kieran O’Donnell were asked to go along to the meeting as members wanted to say a few words as we leave the council.”

The two parties now have final say on who replaces the new TDs on the council.

Fianna Fáil will hold a convention for the 14 cumann in the Bruff electoral area, which Mr Collins represented, and chose a successor.

That nominee will then be co-opted onto the council.

Fine Gael will undergo a similar procedure.

As the annual general meeting of the council is due to take place next month, it is expected the two selection conventions will take place in the next few weeks.