Fitzpatrick gets backing of Fianna Fáil for European elections

Fianna Fáil has agreed to back its leader on Dublin City Council to win a seat in May’s European elections after the female councillor confidently secured victory at a party selection convention last night.

Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick won the backing as party leader Micheál Martin admitted he was unhappy with the low number of female candidates going forward for election at local level.

Ms Fitzpatrick won 362 of the votes, ahead of Tiernan Brady, director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, who received 208, and former senator Geraldine Feeney, who got 140 votes.

Ms Fitzpatrick, who previously topped the poll in local elections in her Dublin area in 2009, said that if she won an MEP seat she would push Europe to help create more jobs in Ireland.

“Our arrogant and complacent Government has a policy of just waiting for things to turn up. I believe we need a more active voice in Europe and that is the role I want to play.

“We have a strong message and a real determination to win this seat. I will do everything I can over the next four months to make this happen,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick twice narrowly missed out on being elected as TD in Dublin Central in the general elections of 2011 and 2007. She also narrowly missed winning a Seanad seat in 2011.

Last night, following her victory at the selection convention in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Mr Martin said: “With Mary as our candidate I believe we have a really strong chance of winning a seat in Dublin and electing someone who will be a first rate MEP.”

Mr Martin admitted that a low number of female candidates were putting themselves forward for election as councillors for the May 23 vote. Overall, the party expects to field more than 330 candidates.