FG mayor quits party in dispute over gender quota directive

The Fine Gael mayor of Tralee, who claimed he was discriminated against because of a gender quota directive from the party in the selection of candidates for the local elections, yesterday announced his resignation from the party.

Town councillor Pat Hussey, a member of Fine Gael for 35 years, claimed the directive blocked his nomination to contest the May 23 elections.

At the Tralee convention, it was decided that of the three FG candidates chosen, one would be a woman, as 30% of candidates have to be female under the directive.