Keaveney would join Hezbollah for career advancement: Rabbitte
The claim comes after Me Keaveney joined Fianna Fáil last week and as the opposition party scrambles to recruit disgruntled TDs in the Dáil.
Fianna Fáil has admitted it is open to discussion with TDs about joining its party and would consider prominent Independent TDs as “assets”.
Fianna Fáil officials have held informal talks with other TDs, including some frustrated with their own organisations in the Dáil, it was confirmed.
Party whip Seán Ó Fearghaíl denied reports that his party was headhunting potential members in Leinster House. However, he admitted it was open to discussions with TDs.
“We are not actively chasing anyone,” he said. “We would see people like Stephen Donnelly, Peter Mathews and others as being assets to our party.
“We’re open to approaches. We will have discussions with any members of the Oireachtas who wish to make applications. We will accept some perhaps and we will reject others.”
Sources close to Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín said he was approached by a former Fianna Fáil senator in Leinster House and asked would he consider joining.
Mr Tóibín was expelled from the party for opposing the abortion legislation earlier this year.
Mr Keaveney’s defection to Fianna Fáil brings to 20 its number of seats in the Dáil.
However, Mr Rabbitte said his former party colleague would join anyone. He even went as far as to suggest the Galway East TD would join Hezbollah , a terrorist group in Lebanon.
“I think Colm Keaveney would join Hezbollah if he thought it would advance his career,” Mr Rabbitte told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics.
Mr Keaveney later tweeted: “Unlike some in Irish politics, I would never join a terrorist organisation that killed and maimed to progress a political objective.”
Earlier this year, Fianna Fáil recruited Labour Meath councillor and former general election candidate Jenny McHugh.
There has been speculation that disgruntled Fine Gael TD Peter Mathews wants to run in next year’s European elections. The Dublin South deputy was kicked out of his party for voting against the abortion legislation.
It is understood Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would like Independent Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly to join their ranks.
