Party has right not to choose a candidate
I naturally share Mr Hughes’ disappointment at the lack of a Green candidate in the area. There are, however, five excellent Green Party candidates standing in Galway city and county.
In the Ballinasloe area only William Finnerty made himself available for selection. While Mr Hughes may feel that Mr Finnerty would be a fine candidate, the local party membership voted not to select a contestant.
It is misleading to suggest that this deprived the public of their right to vote Green.
Whether a party selects a candidate, and who it selects, is purely a matter for that party, and each party can only select from people who have put themselves forward.
If the membership chooses not to select anyone, then that, too, is their right.
Mr Hughes is welcome to join the Green Party and put his own name forward for selection in the future if he still feels deprived of his voting rights as a citizen.
The environmental problems in the Ballinasloe area are very serious, and the Green Party remains totally committed to protecting the local environment, identifying sustainable solutions and campaigning for their adoption.
However, to suggest that these areas “desperately need a Green candidate” is demeaning to the local people of all persuasions who can only protect their environment by coming together and taking action.
It is unrealistic to expect an individual person, even a Green candidate, to be able singlehandedly to protect anything.
Mr Finnerty is free to stand as an independent, or to endorse any other candidate in the Ballinasloe area, if he feels this is needed in order to continue his work of protecting the local environment.
Stiofán Nutty,
General Secretary,
Green Party/Comhaóntas Glas,
5A, Upper Fownes Street,
Dublin 2.
