Spring: Timing of Labour vote unfair

A ROW has broken out in the Labour party over the organisation of a convention next weekend to select a candidate to contest a seat in the South in next year’s European elections.

One candidate, Arthur Spring, the nephew of former tánaiste Dick Spring, has accused party headquarters of putting him at a disadvantage because the convention was organised to suit his opponent, Senator Alan Kelly. The short timeframe between taking nominations and the convention means about 200 members, including Dick Spring, might not be able to vote because they had not paid their party membership fees on time.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Kerry County Councillor, Toireasa Ferris, said she is not ruling out standing in next year’s European elections in the South, formerly Munster, constituency.