Perry to learn result of plea to keep seat

Former small business minister John Perry will learn next week whether Fine Gael colleagues will back his last-ditch plea to defend his TD seat.

The Sligo-Leitrim representative was told last night that Fine Gael’s TD and senator-based parliamentary party will respond in the next seven days after he formally requested them to support his attempt to be added to the general election ticket by the separate national executive.

The ex-minister has repeatedly attempted to be added to the ticket after failing to win one of two places at last month’s Sligo-Leitrim selection convention.