Grassroots activists revolt over candidate selection

GRASSROOTS activists have risen up against Fianna Fáil headquarters to demand greater input into candidate selections.

Cumainn from across the country are angry at a policy of picking candidates for June’s local election by interview instead of local convention. Headquarters wanted to break the stranglehold traditional networks had on the local selection process and devised a system designed to introduce new blood to town and city councils. But at an Ard Fheis debate the cumainn passed motions, ordering the party to think again.

Sean Holt from Dublin north-west said delegates were angry at how headquarters had taken complete control of the selection process. “It was clear that there was a lot of disquiet among members about the interview process and the lack of input at local level...