FF ‘spooked’ by election drop-outs

FORMER Fianna Fáil Justice Minister John O’Donoghue has admitted his party has been “spooked” by refusal of a number of high-profile members not to run in the next general election.

In confirming his intention to put his name forward for re-election, Mr O’Donoghue last night called on all members of the Fianna Fáil party to “steady their nerves and look at what they can do for the constituents and for the country during this turbulent time”.

He said that the decision by leading members not to run had spooked the party.

“These people have served their constituents and their country well over the years and we must appreciate their individual decisions to step down at this stage,” he said.

“I do not subscribe to the cynics’ perception that members are jumping from the Titanic. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fianna Fáil has taken on this massive undertaking to sort out the economic and financial difficulties we face. We have put in place a four-year plan, backed by EU and IMF funding, to get this country back on its feet. We are well placed to make this happen in the coming years and we must fight to ensure that we are in power to do so.”