Former Independent TD to fight poll on FF ticket

Former Independent TD Niall Blaney is to stand alongside his old political rivals Jim McDaid and Cecelia Keaveney on the Fianna Fáil ticket in Donegal at the next election, it emerged today.

After the 35-year split between the Blaney faction and the party was ended in the summer, the trio have been selected to fight side by side for total control of the tough north east constituency.

There are only three seats up for grabs.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern met Mr Blaney last night where it was decided the trio would stand together.

“Niall said that it was his view that the best way to maximise the Fianna Fáil vote in next year’s general election would be for us to run the three outgoing TDs in the constituency,” the Taoiseach said.

“Having reflected on this, I asked the National Constituencies Committee to consider the matter further. The committee today decided that the party shall run the three outgoing deputies – with the aim of maximising the party’s vote in Donegal North East next year.”

Speculation was rife over the future of former minister Dr McDaid for several weeks during the summer as moves were made to amalgamate Fianna Fáil with the Blaney’s Independent Fianna Fáil.

He had been expected to leave politics in the run-up to next year’s election leaving the way clear for Mr Blaney to stand as a Fianna Fáil candidate. But he went the opposite way insisting he was not ready to stand down from the Dáil.

Mr Blaney today insisted he was happy to bury the hatchet and work with his old political foe.

“Given the current political situation across the country I don’t think it’s completely out of the way to take three seats. We currently hold three seats and I don’t think it’s beyond us to take three,” he said.

“I think it’s the best decision to take for all of us and I don’t want to be the one responsible for forcing Jim McDaid out into the cold.

“I think Jim McDaid took some actions maybe he had good reason for that, but I’m not going to get into that. But we are where we are now and I want to be positive and move forward from here.”

In 1971 Fianna Fáil TD Neil Blaney was expelled from the party by the party’s Ard Comhairle. He had been a persistent critic of Jack Lynch’s leadership since his acquittal in the Arms Trial and his dismissal as government minister.

He contested all elections after that under the banner of Independent Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party and later Niall Blaney, his nephew, took up the mantle.