Sister of Clare TD Joe Carey to seek Fine Gael nomination to replace brother

Fine Gael sources confirmed that Leonora Carey had been nominated to replace her brother on the party’s ticket

In recent months, there had been widespread speculation as to Joe Carey’s future as a TD for Clare. Picture: Eamon Ward

Leonora Carey, sister of incumbent TD Joe Carey, is to seek the Fine Gael nomination to replace her brother in Co Clare at the upcoming general election.

Fine Gael sources confirmed that Ms Carey had been nominated to replace her brother on the party’s ticket, but faces a selection convention early next month.

It is expected that Ms Carey will make her announcement on Monday.

Alongside Ms Carey, Clare Senator Martin Conway is seeking the nod to replace the sitting TD.

Word of Ms Carey’s intentions has all but confirmed the speculation that Mr Carey would step down at the next general election.

In recent months, there had been widespread speculation as to Mr Carey’s future as a TD for Clare, following his hospitalisation in March last year after experiencing breathing difficulties and being treated for cardiac issues.

The TD, who was first elected in 2007, spent several nights on a trolley in University Hospital Limerick, before he was transferred to a cardiology unit for treatment.

The Irish Examiner previously reported that Mr Carey would not make his formal announcement until the Dáil recess, which is currently ongoing.

Mr Carey has been absent from the Dáil since his hospitalisation, including for a vote of confidence in the Government last December. The Fine Gael TD also missed the election of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.

Ms Carey, a former chairwoman of the Fine Gael national executive, had been spotted attending public meetings in Clare in recent months. One local party member remarked that she had been spotted canvassing “loads” over the local elections, which further fuelled speculation on her intentions.

The two siblings' father, Donal, was also a TD for Clare, having served in the Dáil between 1982 to 2002. He was a junior minister during the Rainbow Coalition, between1994 and 1997.

It is widely expected that the Government will call a general election in the wake of the budget in October, with speculation centering on a mid-November polling day.