FF grassroots seek new candidate selection process

FIANNA FÁIL headquarters will have to “examine their consciences” after a decision to select local election candidates through an interview process meant many disgruntled former members won seats as independents.

The FF Councillors’ Forum said up to 30 council seats could have been lost to candidates who stood as independents after being rejected by party headquarters.

The strategy, which was headed by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, was aimed at attracting female and younger candidates. Ms Coughlan was among a panel who interviewed for candidates replacing the traditional selection conventions held by local branches. The forum said it did not have exact figures of how many of those rejected ran as independents and won seats but chairman, Cllr Arthur McDonald, said party headquarters has “a lot to answer for”.

The issue was also raised by angry backbenchers at a parliamentary party meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen on Tuesday evening.

Fianna Fáil said they estimated the figure to be around seven or eight.

An independent analysis of those who ran for the party in 2004 and ran as independents in 2009 puts the figure at seven.

Mr McDonald accepted that if these had run for the party rather than independents, it is unlikely they would have won seats.

“When things are good for Fianna Fáil, a jackass would get elected for the party in the local elections,” said the Carlow county councillor.

“But this time very good candidates and very good councillors lost their seats because of the anger with the party on national issues,” he said.

The party lost 84 seats in local authorities in last week’s elections, bringing their total number of councillors down to 218 compared to Fine Gael’s 340 and Labour’s 136.

The Councillor’s Forum is seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the disastrous results and to demand headquarters listen more to local organisations in the future.

“We want changes and we want them immediately,” said Mr McDonald.